Alec Baldwin one less Rust lawsuit to worry about, for now.

Facing two counts of manslaughter in New Mexico for the deadly shooting of october 2021 of Rust Director of Photography Halyna Hutchinsthe actor got some breathing room in the California courts.

Responding to a petition from Baldwin’s lawyers, Rust producers and other defendants as well as plaintiff Maime Mitchell in the latter’s negligence lawsuit, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge stayed the civil case and waived any risk of self-incrimination for the actor until next year, that is, after the planned criminal trial in the Land of Enchantment in more.

In a command (read it here) signed Tuesday by LASC Judge Michael E. Whitaker, it stipulated that “The trial date will be extended from May 17, 2023 to February 21, 2024, or soon after in accordance with the schedule and availability of the Court.”

“The parties believe that the continuation of the trial and all related dates serves the interests of all parties by allowing the parties to maximize good faith settlement negotiations and full discovery,” the order said, alluding to a possible settlement in the long term.

Regardless of any agreement or not, this type of suspension is a standard measure in cases of overlapping criminal and civil cases, such as Bill Cosby And Danny Masterson have found in recent rape trials and tribulations of their own. Whitaker’s order comes as Baldwin and his Rust Gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is scheduled to appear before New Mexico State Judge Mary Marlow Sommer in a virtual status of criminal case conference/hearing on Thursday. With attorneys for all parties, as well as Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, expected to attend, the hearing is expected to set a preliminary hearing date in the case. A date for Baldwin’s request disqualify Special Prosecutor and GOP state legislator Andrea Reeb could also be scheduled for Thursday.

With all that, and a resurrected Rust supposedly fixed to begin filming soon in Montana, it could be some time before Baldwin and Reed stand trial. Now facing 18 months behind bars and fines for Hutchins’ death, the duo could still try to work out some sort of deal with the DA, as Rust first assistant director David Rooms did.

Just weeks after Hutchins died on Oct. 21, 2021, Baldwin sat down with ABC George Stephanopoulos For a primetime interview where he insisted he ‘didn’t pull the trigger’ on the loaded UN that killed the cinematographer and injured the director Joel Souza. Baldwin’s claim has not been confirmed by the FBI in its analysis of the incident and the weapon, as detailed in a 551-page report released by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office. in November 2022. Add to that, Carmack-Altwies claimed in the formal charges handed down January 31 that Baldwin was absent and neglected vital firearms and safety training on Rust.

Have entered a plea of ​​not guilty in the criminal case February 23, Baldwin scored a big victory last month when a gun improvement law that carried a mandatory five-year sentence was passed. abandoned the AD amid cries of unconstitutionality from the defense teams.

Yet, in a case that won’t be easy for prosecutors, no one has determined how live ammunition landed on the Rust together.

At this point and, one of the first of a series of lawsuits currently before the courts in the Golden State and New Mexico, Rust screenwriter Mitchell sued Baldwin, indie western producers Reed, Halls, landlady Sarah Zachry and others on November 17, 2021.

Mitchell, who is represented by Gloria Allred, was almost right next to Hutchins and Souza in the Bonanza Creek Ranch Church setting when the Baldwin 1880s prop gun pointed during a rehearsal. In early November 2022, Whitaker scorned Baldwin’s attempt to withdraw from the trial. He also denied a motion by Baldwin and his El Dorado Pictures Inc to strike out the script supervisor’s claim for punitive damages.

In response, Baldwin November 11, 2022 fought back with a counterclaim for negligence and compensation against Reed, Halls, Zachry and Rust gun and cartridge supplier Seth Kenney.

This case is also suspended until next year.