JUDGE: NO SLANDER IN ALEC BALDWIN'S COMMENTS ON PARKING SPAT

Alec Baldwin didn't slander a man in interviews about a parking dispute that turned physical, a judge has ruled as dueling lawsuits between the actor and the other driver continue.

Baldwin's remarks — including claims that Wojciech Cieszkowski's driving was "really fast," "really aggressive" and made the actor think his wife and son were about to be run over — were "hyperbole" and "rhetorical illustrations," Manhattan judge David B. Cohen wrote Thursday (26 DEC. 2019).

"They are words of frustration with someone's driving," not accusations that amount to slander, Cohen wrote.

He tossed out Cieszkowski's slander claim, but his assault and battery allegations can proceed toward trial. A message seeking comment was sent to Cieszkowski's attorneys.

Baldwin's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, said Friday they were pleased with the decision.

The Emmy Award-winning actor pleaded guilty to harassment in the November 2018 confrontation. He went on to file a defamation suit of his own against Cieszkowski, a contractor.

The two clashed over a parking spot outside Baldwin's Manhattan apartment building. Cieszkowski said Baldwin hit him in the face, causing him "substantial pain" and headaches. Baldwin has said he "lightly pushed Cieszkowski in the chest" but did not seriously injure him.

Baldwin initially faced a misdemeanor attempted assault charge, but it was dropped. Harassment is a violation, the lowest level of offense.

After pleading guilty and agreeing to take an anger-management class, Baldwin commented on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "The Howard Stern Show."

"Did I have an argument with the guy? Yeah. I thought he was going to run over my wife with his car when he was stealing my parking spot," he said on "Ellen."

He similarly told Stern that he feared Cieszkowski "was going to hit my wife and my son" as the contractor "just went zip! — really fast and really aggressive" in taking the parking space.

"I thought what he did was impolite, bordering on dangerous," Baldwin said.

Cieszkowski said through his lawsuit that he never imperiled anyone. Baldwin's remarks essentially, and falsely, accused him of such crimes as reckless endangerment, he said.

For his part, Baldwin argues in court papers that Cieszkowski defamed him by falsely accusing him of a violent assault.

Baldwin has gotten into a number of public dust-ups over the years.

He was arrested in 1995 after being accused of slugging a photographer in Los Angeles, and he was thrown off a plane in 2011 after arguing with a flight attendant who asked him to stop playing a cellphone game.

Three years later, Baldwin was arrested in New York, where police said he became belligerent after being stopped for bicycling the wrong way on a one-way street. That case was eventually tossed out.

New York, 21 November 2019

1. Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Baldwin pose for photos at the American Museum of Natural History gala

Los Angeles, 17 September 2017

2. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Emmys

New York, 7 November 2017

3. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's fall gala

New York, 22 October 2018

4. Wide of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin with their daughter Carmen on a red carpet

New York, 2 November 2015

5. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's fall gala

ALEC BALDWIN SET FOR COURT DATE IN PARKING-SPOT ASSAULT CASE

Alec Baldwin is due to answer assault and harassment charges in a New York court after being accused of striking a man in the face over a parking space.

The actor is set to be arraigned Monday (26 NOV. 2018) on the misdemeanor and violation-level charges. He has said any assertion that he punched anyone over a parking spot is false.

Baldwin was arrested on Nov. 2. Police were told a driver pulled into a Manhattan parking space that one of Baldwin's relatives was holding for him, and the two men started quarreling and pushing each other.

The other driver told police Baldwin punched or slapped him. The 49-year-old man was taken to a hospital complaining of jaw pain and redness around his neck.

Baldwin later tweeted the episode was "egregiously misstated."

FILE: New York, 2 November 2018

1. Various of Alec Baldwin leaving police precinct and gets into car

2. Vehicle pulls away

3. Wide of '6th Precinct The City of New York Police Department' wording on wall

4. Zoom in on City of New York Police Department shield logo

5. Medium of door

6. Wide of police officer standing outside entrance door

FILE: New York, 7 Nov. 2017

7. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's annual fall gala

FILE: New York, 17 Sept. 2017

8. Various of Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin posing on the Emmys red carpet

FILE: New York, 22 Oct. 2018

9. Wide of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin with their daughter Carmen on a red carpet

FILE: New York, 2 Nov. 2015

10. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's annual fall gala

Alec Baldwin was arrested Friday after allegedly punching a man in the face during a dispute over a parking spot outside his New York City home, authorities said.

Police said the actor claimed he had a family member holding the spot for him as he attempted to park his black Cadillac Escalade around 1:30 p.m. (1730 GMT) when a man driving a black Saab station wagon pulled up and took it.

Police said the men were arguing and pushed each other before Baldwin, 60, turned violent.

Baldwin was taken into custody and is expected to face an assault charge.

He's being processed at a nearby precinct in Manhattan's Greenwich Village neighborhood.

The driver of the station wagon, 49, was taken to a hospital with jaw pain, police said.

A representative for Baldwin did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment.

ARCHIVE: New York - 7 November 2017

1. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's annual fall gala

ARCHIVE: New York - 17 September 2017

2. Various of Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin posing on the Emmys red carpet

ARCHIVE: New York - 22 October 2018

3. Wide of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin with their daughter Carmen on a red carpet

ARCHIVE: New York - 2 November 2015

4. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's annual fall gala

Actor Alec Baldwin has been arrested for allegedly punching someone during a dispute over a New York City parking spot.

Police say the actor was taken into custody just before 2 p.m. Friday (2 November 2018) in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood.

A representative for Baldwin did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment.

ARCHIVE: New York - 7 November 2017

1. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's annual fall gala

ARCHIVE: New York - 17 September 2017

2. Various of Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin posing on the Emmys red carpet

ARCHIVE: New York - 22 October 2018

3. Wide of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin with their daughter Carmen on a red carpet

ARCHIVE: New York - 2 November 2015

4. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's annual fall gala

ALEC BALDWIN ARRESTED IN ALLEGED PARKING DISPUTE PUNCH

Alec Baldwin has been arrested for allegedly punching someone during a dispute over a New York City parking spot.

Police say the actor was taken into custody just before 2 p.m. Friday (2 NOV 2018) in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood.

A representative for Baldwin did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment.

FILE: New York, 7 Nov. 2017

1. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's annual fall gala

FILE: New York, 17 Sept. 2017

2. Various of Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin posing on the Emmys red carpet

FILE: New York, 22 Oct. 2018

3. Wide of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin with their daughter Carmen on a red carpet

FILE: New York, 2 Nov. 2015

4. Various of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's annual fall gala