Alec Baldwin is once again in the middle of a legal battle tied to the fatal Rust shooting, this time over when and how he will sit for questioning.
According to newly filed court documents obtained by Complex, Baldwin’s attorneys told a Los Angeles judge that the actor will not appear for a deposition scheduled for September 19, 2025, as requested by Serge Svetnoy, a gaffer on the film who sued for emotional distress after witnessing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ death.
The filing, entered September 10 by Baldwin’s legal team at Quinn Emanuel, argues that Svetnoy’s notice of deposition conflicts with an earlier understanding that Baldwin would only be deposed once. That single deposition, they said, was supposed to cover both Svetnoy’s lawsuit in California and a separate case in New Mexico, Solovey et al. v. Rust Movie Productions.
“Mr. Baldwin’s deposition could not proceed as originally scheduled … because counsel for plaintiffs in Solovey had not agreed to the proposed stipulation regarding the joint deposition,” the filing states. Baldwin’s lawyers further noted they plan to seek a protective order to prevent duplicative questioning.
The defense maintains that once the issue of whether Baldwin must testify separately in the two civil cases is resolved, they will coordinate a “mutually convenient date and time” for his deposition. Svetnoy’s lawsuit, filed in 2021, describes the trauma of standing near Hutchins when the gun Baldwin was holding discharged a live round.
His complaint alleges “negligence and unprofessionalism” on set and says he suffered severe emotional distress, even though he was not physically injured. Baldwin has denied responsibility, previously noting in legal responses that Hutchins’ family reached a settlement in their wrongful death suit. His attorneys argue Svetnoy’s claims are duplicative and based only on his proximity to the tragedy.
While Baldwin no longer faces criminal charges after a judge declined to reopen his manslaughter case last year, the civil suits continue to pull him back into multiple courtrooms.
