A Los Angeles judge has cleared the way for a civil trial against actor Alec Baldwin over the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of "Rust," rejecting efforts by Baldwin and other producers to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the film's gaffer.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maurice Leiter denied the motion to dismiss in a ruling Friday, allowing the case by Serge Svetnoy, the chief electrician on the film, to proceed. Svetnoy alleges negligence on Baldwin's part and claims he suffered severe emotional trauma after witnessing the shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

In his ruling, Leiter said a reasonable jury could find that Baldwin acted with a conscious disregard for the rights and safety of others through ways his actions fell short of accepted industry firearms safety practices. The judge emphasized that even if others were responsible for gun safety, that did not absolve Baldwin of responsibility.

The case centers on the October 2021 shooting at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico, when a prop gun Baldwin was holding fired a live round, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Svetnoy's filings state the bullet narrowly missed him.

What the Left Is Saying

Supporters of the lawsuit and legal analysts say the ruling appropriately holds Baldwin accountable as both actor and producer. They note that Judge Leiter's reasoning—that ultimate responsibility cannot be delegated—sets an important precedent for on-set safety.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the ruling allows Svetnoy to pursue claims that Baldwin's conduct contributed to the traumatic incident. Some legal observers said the decision reinforces that those with authority on film sets cannot escape responsibility by pointing to others.

The New York Times noted the ruling allows the negligence claim to proceed while dismissing a separate assault claim, finding no evidence Baldwin intended harm. This distinction, supporters say, shows the court is carefully weighing the allegations.

What the Right Is Saying

Baldwin's supporters argue the actor should not bear primary responsibility for gun safety, noting that professionals specifically hired as armorer and assistant director were tasked with those duties. They contend the ruling places unfair blame on an actor who relied on industry professionals to ensure weapon safety.

Baldwin has consistently denied pulling the trigger and maintains he believed the gun contained no live ammunition. His attorneys argued in filings that assigning liability to Baldwin ignores the established chain of command on film sets for firearm safety.

The actor successfully defeated criminal charges in New Mexico, where a judge ruled the state withheld evidence and barred prosecutors from retrying the case. Baldwin has also filed his own civil lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution, which was dismissed.

What the Numbers Show

The 2021 Rust shooting resulted in one death—cinematographer Halyna Hutchins—and one injury to director Joel Souza. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film's armorer, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison, released last May.

Multiple lawsuits connected to the shooting have been settled, including claims by Hutchins's family. Svetnoy's case is among the first to proceed toward a full civil trial, with a tentative start date later this year.

Criminal charges against Baldwin were dropped in July 2024 after a New Mexico judge ruled prosecutors withheld evidence. The civil case now proceeding in Los Angeles Superior Court represents a separate legal matter under California law.

The Bottom Line

The ruling allows Serge Svetnoy's negligence claim to proceed to trial, marking the latest development in years of legal fallout from the Rust shooting. The case will test whether an actor-producer can be held liable for on-set safety failures under California law.

The trial is expected to examine Baldwin's role in production decisions and his relationship to the armorer hired for the film. Legal observers say the outcome could influence how Hollywood assigns responsibility for safety on sets with firearms.

A tentative trial date has been set for later this year. The case will likely draw significant attention given Baldwin's celebrity status and the high-profile nature of the original incident that prompted widespread changes to firearms safety protocols in the film industry.