A New Mexico judge has dismissed Alec Baldwin’s lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution and civil rights violations related to the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of ‘Rust.’
Filed earlier this year, the suit accused prosecutors and law enforcement—including special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies—of targeting Baldwin for political and personal gain. It also named several investigators and the Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners.
Court records indicate the case saw no significant developments, prompting the judge to dismiss it without prejudice. The ruling, made effective Wednesday, gives Baldwin’s legal team 30 days to seek reinstatement. Attorney Luke Nikas called the dismissal a “nonevent,” citing ongoing settlement talks and plans to refile if negotiations fall through.
The lawsuit also raised concerns about live ammunition allegedly entering the sheriff’s office months before the shooting—intensifying questions about how the fatal round ended up on set.
The ‘Rust’ tragedy is not the only fatal incident to occur during filming. In this gallery, we revisit the events of October 2021 and examine other heartbreaking on-set accidents that have claimed the lives of cast and crew throughout cinematic history.