Three crew members on the set of Rust are suing actor Alec Baldwin and others over the death of the film’s cinematographer.
Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin, and Reese Price say they have suffered anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder since a prop gun held by Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set in October 2021.
The lawsuit says that the crew members were near Baldwin when Ms. Hutchins was shot and that they all suffered from blast injuries.
Jacob G. Vigil, a lawyer for the three, said:
“Production of the gun-heavy western film required an experienced firearms expert and safety-minded leadership. ‘Rust’ had neither. Instead, producers contracted an inexperienced armorer and set leaders with histories of safety violations.
“The multiple complaints from crew members about dangerous set conditions including firearms discharges, lack of rehearsals, and denial of dedicated armorer days, were ignored while cast and crew were allowed to handle firearms without proper training. Several crew members resigned from the film in response to leadership’s inaction”.
Jacob G. Vigil
The defendants named in the lawsuit – Baldwin, Rust Movie Productions, and El Dorado Pictures – “cut corners and ignored safety rules”, Mr. Vigil said, adding that they put the quick and cheap production of Rust ahead of the safety of the cast and crew.
Also among the complaints are accusations that Baldwin did not pay attention during weapons training, that he failed to make sure the gun was not loaded with a live bullet, and that he discharged the round.
Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger.
A number of other lawsuits have been filed over the incident, including one from Ms. Hutchins’s widower Matthew, her parents, and her sister.
Last week, Baldwin pleaded not guilty to two charges of involuntary manslaughter over the death of Ms. Hutchins.
The Santa Fe District Attorney’s office recently dropped a firearm enhancement to the charge, which would have made the crime punishable by a mandatory five years in jail.
Actor pleads not guilty
Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to two charges of involuntary manslaughter over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The 64-year-old actor was charged by the Santa Fe District Attorney’s (DA) office with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on the set of the film Rust in October 2021.
The first charge faced by Baldwin was involuntary manslaughter which required proof of underlying negligence.
The second charge was involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act which required proof that there was more than simple negligence involved in a death.
He was due in court, but entered the pleas last week Thursday, waiving his right to a first appearance in court.
Earlier, a firearm enhancement to the charge was dropped by the DA, meaning the potential maximum sentence Baldwin faces was reduced from five years to 18 months.
His lawyers argued that the enhancement was “unlawful” as it had been enacted seven months after the incident and that the government should have taken “careful consideration” due to the charge carrying the “greatest legal penalty”.
In a statement following the withdrawal notice, his lawyers said:
“Instead, a spokesperson for the government immediately issues an extraordinary statement to the media characterizing the motion as an ‘attempt to distract’ from the case by Mr. Baldwin’s ‘fancy attorneys'”.
Baldwin Lawyers
The actor also faced a separate civil lawsuit filed by the family of Ms. Hutchins on 9 February.
They are suing both Baldwin and the Rust movie production company for alleged battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and loss of consortium – a claim to compensate for damage to relationships that are mutually dependent.
Producers have announced that filming on the western film will resume in the spring, more than a year on from the fatal shooting.
A documentary about Ms. Hutchins’ life and final work, which will include the completion of the movie, is also in the works alongside the production, supported by her husband.
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