A California judge has ruled that key parts of a civil lawsuit against Alec Baldwin can move forward, stemming from the 2021 shooting on the set of “Rust” that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Serge Svetnoy, a gaffer on the set, filed the lawsuit, alleging emotional distress from the incident. Svetnoy claims that the bullet narrowly missed him. He is suing Baldwin for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, though the judge dismissed an assault claim. The judge wrote that a reasonable jury could find grounds to uphold the remaining claims. Svetnoy alleges Baldwin, who was holding the prop gun that contained a live round, owed a duty of care to those in the line of sight of the weapon. Baldwin has consistently maintained that he did not pull the trigger. The shooting also injured “Rust” director Joel Souza, who has since recovered. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to 18 months and is no longer in prison. Baldwin’s criminal case was dismissed after a judge determined there was misconduct by the prosecution team, ruling that he cannot be retried on the same charge. KOAT Legal Expert John Day said, “Most cases do settle before trial. It remains to be seen what that outcome is going to be.”Several other lawsuits related to the shooting, including one from Hutchins’ husband and other crew members, were settled before trial without any admission of wrongdoing. KOAT has contacted both Svetnoy and Baldwin’s legal teams for a comment.It remains unclear when the case might go to trial.
A California judge has ruled that key parts of a civil lawsuit against Alec Baldwin can move forward, stemming from the 2021 shooting on the set of “Rust” that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Serge Svetnoy, a gaffer on the set, filed the lawsuit, alleging emotional distress from the incident. Svetnoy claims that the bullet narrowly missed him.
He is suing Baldwin for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, though the judge dismissed an assault claim.
The judge wrote that a reasonable jury could find grounds to uphold the remaining claims. Svetnoy alleges Baldwin, who was holding the prop gun that contained a live round, owed a duty of care to those in the line of sight of the weapon.
Baldwin has consistently maintained that he did not pull the trigger.
The shooting also injured “Rust” director Joel Souza, who has since recovered. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to 18 months and is no longer in prison.
Baldwin’s criminal case was dismissed after a judge determined there was misconduct by the prosecution team, ruling that he cannot be retried on the same charge.
KOAT Legal Expert John Day said, “Most cases do settle before trial. It remains to be seen what that outcome is going to be.”
Several other lawsuits related to the shooting, including one from Hutchins’ husband and other crew members, were settled before trial without any admission of wrongdoing.
KOAT has contacted both Svetnoy and Baldwin’s legal teams for a comment.
It remains unclear when the case might go to trial.
