AceShowbiz - Alec Baldwin suffered a major legal defeat when a Los Angeles judge ruled that he must face a civil trial concerning allegations of negligence related to the fatal firearm incident on the set of the Western film Rust.

The lawsuit was initiated by Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer on the film, who was reportedly standing a few feet away when Baldwin discharged a prop revolver on October 21, 2021. This discharge tragically resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Baldwin sought to have the entire lawsuit dismissed, arguing that Svetnoy failed to present any evidence that the actor was responsible for on-set safety or involved in decisions about props or crew hiring. Baldwin contended that as an actor, he had no obligation to verify whether the gun was loaded or to treat it as dangerous.

However, Judge Maurice Leiter disagreed, stating that Svetnoy provided enough evidence to suggest that Baldwin exercised some level of control over the film’s budget, cast, crew, and daily activities. This, the judge said, was sufficient to establish a factual dispute regarding Baldwin’s safety responsibilities, warranting a trial.

In addition, the court allowed Svetnoy’s claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress to proceed, noting that a reasonable jury could conclude Baldwin recklessly disregarded the risk of causing emotional harm by pointing a gun with his finger on the trigger in someone’s direction.

On a more favorable note for Baldwin, the court dismissed the assault claim filed by Svetnoy, ruling there was no evidence Baldwin intended to harm anyone.

The judge also postponed the previously scheduled May 26 jury trial, pushing the case back more than four months. Baldwin’s legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Svetnoy’s lawyers, Gary Dordick and John Upton, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating their client looks forward to presenting his case before a jury in the trial now set for October 2026.

The fatal shooting on the Rust set has led to numerous legal actions against Baldwin. He faced a felony involuntary manslaughter charge, which was ultimately dismissed at trial. Beyond criminal proceedings, multiple civil lawsuits have been filed by crew members and the family of Halyna Hutchins.

This ruling marks a crucial development in the ongoing legal aftermath of the tragic incident that occurred during filming in Santa Fe, New Mexico, highlighting the complex questions of responsibility and safety in movie production environments.