Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ misconduct lawsuit against police, prosecutors dismissed
The actor had sued public officials in January, accusing them of malicious abuse of process, defamation and mishandling of evidence
Judge Casey Fitch dismissed Baldwin’s complaint on Tuesday for lack of “significant action” in the case over the past 180 days. The one-page order, made public on Wednesday, allows any party in the lawsuit to seek reinstatement within 30 days.
In a statement later on Tuesday, Luke Nikas, a lawyer for Baldwin, said settlement discussions were underway.
“We have been in good-faith settlement discussions with the parties to the lawsuit and will be refiling promptly if those discussions are not promptly and favorably resolved,” he said.
Baldwin sued special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, Santa Fe County law enforcement investigators and other public officials in January, accusing them of malicious abuse of process, defamation and mishandling of evidence.
The lawsuit said the prosecutors and others had conspired to manufacture a criminal case against Baldwin for political and personal gain when they charged him with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
