A judge on Wednesday dismissed Alec Baldwin’s misconduct suit against authorities in New Mexico, after Baldwin’s side failed to pursue the case.
Baldwin filed the 73-page complaint in January, alleging that prosecutor Kari Morrissey and others trampled on his rights in seeking to hold him accountable for the fatal shooting of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
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But in the months since, Baldwin’s lawyers have done nothing to prosecute the civil case — failing even to file a notice that the defendants had been served.
Judge Casey Fitch ordered the case dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be reinstated if the plaintiffs seek to revive it.
“We have been in good faith discussions with the parties to the lawsuit and will be refiling promptly if those discussions are not promptly and favorably resolved,” said Baldwin’s lawyer, Luke Nikas, in a statement.
Under New Mexico law, a case can be dismissed for failure to prosecute if no action is taken within six months.
Baldwin went on trial in July 2024 for involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors alleged that he engaged in criminal negligence by pointing a gun at Hutchins and pulling the trigger during preparation for a scene, in violation of written set safety rules.
Baldwin’s defense argued that he could not have known that the gun was loaded, and that it was not his job to make sure that it was safe. The criminal case was dismissed three days into the trial, after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled that Morrissey had improperly withheld evidence from the defense.
The D.A.’s office sought to appeal that ruling, but were met with resistance from the state attorney general, who would have had to take up the case for reinstating the prosecution. The D.A.’s office ultimately dropped the appeal in December.
Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film’s armorer, was released from prison in May after serving 14 months. Several civil cases remain pending, including one filed by Hutchins’ widower and another brought by her parents.
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