NEED TO KNOW
-
Alec Baldwin’s civil lawsuit against Rust movie set prosecution has been dismissed
-
Court documents obtained by PEOPLE note the suit was dropped due to no “significant action” taking place since Baldwin filed in January
-
Baldwin first filed the lawsuit in January, citing “malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence, defamation, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act”
Alec Baldwin’s civil lawsuit against several individuals involved with the Rust movie set prosecution has been dismissed.
In court documents obtained by PEOPLE on Wednesday, July 30, the lawsuit was dropped due to no “signification action” taking place in 180 or more days since claims were first filed. As such, all claims by Baldwin in the lawsuit have been dismissed without prejudice. Judge Case B. Fitch noted in her ruling that Baldwin, 67, may move for reinstatement within 30 days.
Baldwin first filed the lawsuit in January, six months after an involuntary manslaughter charge against him, stemming from the 2021 Rust shooting, was dropped.
The actor sued prosecutors in the case, First Judicial District Attorney officials, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office authorities and Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners for alleged “malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence, defamation, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act.”
https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf
Karen Kuehn
Alec Baldwin in ‘Rust.’
Baldwin, through his attorneys, alleged the defendants were “blinded by their desire to convict” him “for all the wrong reasons, and at any cost,” for the fatal October 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin was indicted in January 2024 after a gun he was holding on the set of the film Rust discharged in October 2021, killing Hutchins. The charge was dismissed in July 2024 after Baldwin’s attorneys alleged prosecutors had buried evidence. In December 2024, prosecutors dropped their notice to appeal the dismissal.
In his lawsuit, Baldwin maintained that on the day of the fatal shooting, he was handed a prop gun and a crew member yelled out “cold gun” to “assure Baldwin” and those nearby that the firearm only had “dummy rounds” in it. “The prop fired a live round that killed Hutchins,” the complaint states.
He alleged “certain defendants” purposefully hid evidence and lied while on the stand, aiming to make Baldwin the “scapegoat” for the tragedy. The lawsuit noted Baldwin wanted the defendants, which included special prosecutor Kari Morrisey and District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, to be “held accountable” for their “malicious and unlawful pursuit” against him.
Falling Forward
Alec Baldwin and Patrick Scott McDermott in ‘Rust.’
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The lawsuit alleged Morrissey delivered “inconsistent” testimony on the evidence she allegedly concealed. It also alleged Carmack-Altwies defamed Baldwin when she said in a 2023 CNN interview that Baldwin “had a duty to make sure the set was safe,” suggesting he was at fault for Hutchins’ death.
“The false and defamatory statements carry the unmistakable message that Baldwin committed a serious crime—i.e., that he negligently or recklessly caused the death of another human,” court documents alleged.
Baldwin had been suing for general and/or compensatory damages in an amount to be decided at trial. He also sued for punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.
Read the original article on People
