Alec Baldwin Ordered to Face Civil Trial in 'Rust' 'Shooting
April 17, 2026
A judge has ruled that actor Alec Baldwin will face a civil trial in October over the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of the film "Rust," keeping the high-profile case in the spotlight despite the earlier dismissal of criminal charges.
A Los Angeles judge has ordered that actor and producer Alec Baldwin must face a civil trial over the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of the film 'Rust'. The ruling allows a lawsuit filed by a crew member who witnessed the tragedy to proceed, ensuring that Baldwin’s role in the incident will be examined in a courtroom despite the prior dismissal of criminal charges against him. The lawsuit, brought forth by the film’s chief lighting technician, Serge Svetnoy, accuses Baldwin and other producers of negligence and seeks damages for the emotional distress Svetnoy suffered. A trial is tentatively scheduled for this autumn.
The case stems from the October 2021 incident at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico, where a prop revolver handled by Baldwin discharged a live round. The shot killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. Svetnoy, a close friend of Hutchins, alleges in his complaint that the bullet narrowly missed him and that he held Hutchins in his arms as she died. In his ruling, Superior Court Judge Maurice Leiter stated that a reasonable jury could find Baldwin's actions were reckless and that he disregarded the potential to cause emotional distress by pointing a weapon at someone. While the judge dismissed a claim of assault, the core allegations of negligence will move forward.
This civil trial represents a significant remaining legal challenge for Baldwin concerning the 'Rust' tragedy. In July 2024, an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor was dramatically dismissed. A New Mexico judge ruled that prosecutors had withheld evidence from the defense, effectively ending the criminal proceedings against him. This stood in contrast to the case against the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024 and served a prison sentence before her release in May 2025. Baldwin has consistently maintained that he was told the firearm was "cold" and that he did not pull the trigger.
Over the years, several other civil lawsuits related to the shooting have been resolved out of court. An agreement was reached with Matthew Hutchins, the widower of the late cinematographer, which allowed for the completion of the film 'Rust' with him serving as an executive producer. Additionally, a separate lawsuit filed by three other crew members who said they suffered trauma from witnessing the event was settled in June 2025. Svetnoy’s case is one of the last major outstanding legal claims directly involving Baldwin's conduct on the day of the shooting.
As the case now moves toward a potential trial in October, both sides will prepare their arguments. Baldwin's legal team had sought to have the case dismissed, arguing his duty of care did not extend to Svetnoy regarding the firearm's handling, which was the responsibility of others on set. However, the court found that Baldwin's own responsibilities were not eliminated. Svetnoy’s attorneys expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating their client looks forward to his day in court. The proceedings will once again place the details of the on-set tragedy, and Baldwin's actions, under intense public and legal scrutiny.
Source: newsmax