Actor Alec Baldwin is set to return to court, but he won’t face any criminal charges stemming from an incident on the set of “The Last” that resulted in his own injury.
A judge in Los Angeles decided on Friday that the civil lawsuit involving the 68-year-old actor will move forward to trial.
The criminal manslaughter case related to the tragic death of cinematographer Halina Hutchins in October 2021 was dismissed in July 2024, after it was determined that prosecutors had not shared important evidence.
The civil lawsuit has been brought forth by director Serge Svetnoy, who claims that Baldwin’s negligence contributed to Hutchins’ death, causing him “emotional distress.”
Baldwin was reportedly rehearsing a scene with firearms but stated he was unaware that the weapon contained live ammunition when it discharged, fatally wounding Hutchins on set in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Despite his claims, Baldwin also asserted that he did not pull the trigger at the time of the incident.
Judge Maurice Leiter from Los Angeles Superior Court granted summary judgment on Friday, dismissing the defense’s stance that Baldwin and the producers bore no legal obligation for safety on set.
According to the judge, “A reasonable jury could find that Mr. Baldwin recklessly disregarded the possibility of causing emotional distress by pointing the gun in someone’s direction with his finger on the trigger.”
A bullet from Baldwin’s firearm hit Hutchins in the chest, then went through her body and struck “The Last” director Joel Souza in the shoulder.
While Svetnoy was not physically harmed, he reported experiencing a “whoosh” and hearing a loud “thump” when the gun discharged.
The judge did dismiss the assault claim from Svetnoy, stating there was no evidence that Baldwin had intended to cause harm.
As the trial progresses, Baldwin will face inquiries about his conduct and whether his actions were reckless in pointing a firearm at others present.
“Mr. Baldwin is the last line of defense. Guns generally don’t fire themselves,” remarked Svetnoy’s attorney, John Upton, during the hearing.
The production company, Last Movie Productions, argued that the matter should fall under the workers’ compensation system, but this argument was rejected because the company lacked actual employees.
Judge Reiter is allowing claims for punitive damages, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress to proceed, although the trial could be postponed for several months.
The trial was initially set to start on May 12, but both parties requested a delay to explore additional evidence and potential settlements.
A new trial date has been set for October 12, with Reiter expressing concern over the case’s prolonged duration. “I’m a little worried that this case is going to go on and on when it should be getting resolved,” he noted.
