A civil lawsuit against Alec Baldwin over the fatal 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the 'Rust' film set is moving toward trial after a judge allowed the case to proceed. The suit, filed by chief lighting technician Serge Svetnoy, accuses Baldwin and the production company of negligence in failing to follow gun safety protocols.

Baldwin was cleared of criminal charges in 2024 when a New Mexico judge dismissed the case due to prosecutorial misconduct, finding that evidence had been withheld. The actor maintains he did not pull the trigger and was told the weapon was 'cold' before the fatal incident. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film's armorer, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served over a year in prison.

The October trial will examine whether Baldwin's actions constituted negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Judge Maurice Leiter found Svetnoy's allegations sufficient to proceed, though an assault claim was dismissed. The case highlights ongoing legal and safety concerns in the film industry following one of Hollywood's most high-profile on-set tragedies.