Alec Baldwin, "Rust" movie producers and crew members sued by Halyna Hutchins’ family
Last October, Alec Baldwin accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins to death with a prop gun while filming the movie “Rust”. Hutchins’ family last Tuesday (15 February) filed a lawsuit alleging reckless behaviour as well as cost-cutting that have led to her death. The lawsuit also named other defendants, including the movie’s producers and crew members.
The lawsuit was filed in the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico on behalf of Hutchins' husband Matthew and son Andros who are seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit claimed that Baldwin and other defendants “failed to perform industry standard safety checks and follow basic gun safety rules”.
Back in December, in an exclusive interview with ABC News, Baldwin claimed that he never pulled the trigger that caused the fatal accident.
“Any claim that Alec was reckless is entirely false,” Aaron Dyer, attorney for Baldwin and other producers, said in a statement Tuesday. “He, Halyna and the rest of the crew relied on the statement by the two professionals responsible for checking the gun that it was a ‘cold gun’ – meaning there is no possibility of a discharge.”
The lawsuit also cites text messages and emails sent by Lane Luper, the camera assistant who warned the whole crew about accidental discharges on set. Prior to Hutchins’ death, Baldwin’s stunt double accidentally fired two rounds, as witnessed by two crew members.
Baldwin has not yet responded to the latest lawsuit and no criminal charges have emerged.