A Judge has decided that Alec Baldwin can be sued by the script director of his movie “Rust.” The same movie in which cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was accidentally shot and killed.
In a decision that doesn’t bode well for the actor, the judge said that script director Mamie Mitchell can proceed with her lawsuit against Baldwin.
This is a change of tune on the count of the Judge. Earlier this year, in September, the same judge blocked the majority of Mitchell’s claims.
The LA Times Reported:
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael E. Whitaker concluded that Mitchell could advance her claims of assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence against the actor who accidentally fired the weapon that fatally wounded cinematographer Halyna Hutchins a year ago, according to court filings.
In this new decision, the Judge is allowing Mitchell to pursue punitive damages against Baldwin and his finance company El Dorado Pictures.
“For pleading purposes, the Court finds the second amended complaint alleges facts sufficient to establish despicable conduct carried out by [the defendants] with a willful and conscious disregard of the rights or safety of others.”
Judge Decides Against Alec Baldwin In Case Of Shooting On Set Of Movie https://t.co/FGenkd9K0q
— Paula Alquist Anton (@PaulaAlquist) November 4, 2022
“The Court was required to assume at this stage that Mitchell’s allegations against Alec Baldwin were true — even though they are demonstrably false, made in bad faith, and contradict her own prior statements about what happened,” the actor’s attorney explained. “We are pleased the Court dismissed some of her claims and look forward to disproving the rest of her case, now that she can no longer shield her misrepresentations from the evidence.”
However, while Baldwin’s legal team gears up for a fight, Mitchell’s attorney celebrated the victory.
“We are pleased that the trial court’s tentative ruling has overruled Mr. Baldwin’s demurrer and permitted our client, Mamie Mitchell, to continue her lawsuit against Alec Baldwin to recover damages for the personal injuries she sustained,” her attorney, Gloria Allred, said. “Ms. Mitchell looks forward to her trial and obtaining justice.”
Baldwin has already come to an undisclosed settlement with the family of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The settlement stemmed from a wrongful death lawsuit over the shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.”
The lawsuit was filed in February in Santa Fe against the actor. Baldwin accidentally shot and killed Hutchins on the movie set. The lawsuit included numerous standards violations against the producers and key members of the crew.
