A civil lawsuit filed against actor-producer Alec Baldwin and the producers of the movie “Rust” will proceed, as a New Mexico judge rejected a request by Baldwin’s legal team to dismiss the case. The lawsuit, brought forth by three crew members of the film, alleges that cost-cutting measures compromised the safety of the cast and crew, while Baldwin himself skipped safety training. The incident in question occurred during the filming of Rust in 2021, where Baldwin was rehearsing a scene with cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when a gun he was handling discharged, tragically resulting in Hutchins’ death.
Chief District Judge Bryan Biedscheid’s decision also denied a motion to postpone the proceedings, despite arguments that postponing the case would protect Baldwin from potentially incriminating himself. Baldwin’s legal team voiced concerns that evidence from the civil case could be used against him in potential criminal charges related to the shooting incident. The court rejected this argument, emphasizing its commitment to protecting Baldwin’s rights.
Baldwin’s attorney, Robert Schwartz, pointed out that the situation places Baldwin in a difficult position and suggested that Baldwin might assert his 5th Amendment rights, hindering the discovery process for the plaintiffs. However, the judge maintained that Baldwin’s rights would be respected. While the exact timeline for the prosecutors’ decision regarding potential criminal charges remains uncertain, Schwartz hinted that an announcement could be made within the next few weeks.
The tragic shooting incident on the set of Rust in 2021 led to a series of legal actions, with accusations that the defendants had not adhered to proper safety protocols. Various civil lawsuits were filed, including wrongful death claims from Hutchins’ family. The plaintiffs in this case argue that Baldwin and the producers took shortcuts, ignored reports of firearm discharges, and rushed the production, resulting in understaffing and compromising safety standards. They also claim emotional distress from witnessing the incident.
Baldwin’s defense team contends that none of the plaintiffs sustained physical injuries, therefore they shouldn’t be eligible for damages. They argue that gun safety was the responsibility of others on set and that Baldwin’s role as a producer was limited to script and casting decisions.
Separately, a settlement addressing workplace safety violations was reached in March between New Mexico workplace safety regulators and Rust Movie Productions. This settlement followed a review that highlighted significant safety failures and violations of industry protocols. Testimonies revealed that concerns raised by crew members about gun safety were disregarded, and weapons specialists were not given authority over additional safety training decisions.