American actor Alec Baldwin files a complaint against several members of the filming of the film Ruston which he killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021 while handling a loaded revolver, a dramatic news item that shook Hollywood.
Posted yesterday at 12:30 p.m.
According to a court document dated Friday, the 64-year-old actor is suing filming gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, production assistant David Halls, head prop man Sarah Zachry, as well as gunsmith assistant Seth Kenney and the accessories business he owns.
“This tragedy happened because live ammunition was delivered to the set and loaded into the gun, [Hannah] Gutierrez-Reed did not check the weapon carefully, but still announced that it was safe before passing it to [Alec] Baldwin,” details the lawsuit filed in a Los Angeles court.
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Alec Baldwin
The actor also accuses Sarah Zachry of not having revealed that the armorer had had “irresponsible behavior outside the set and represented a risk”.
On October 21, 2021, the filming of Rust on a ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, had turned tragic when Mr. Baldwin had activated a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets, but whose very real projectile had fatally injured Halyna Hutchins, 42 years old.
Other lawsuits
Alec Baldwin’s lawsuit comes amid lawsuits filed by scripter Mamie Mitchell against a slew of crew members, including the actor, whom she accuses of failing to follow safety procedures . She claims to have suffered significant emotional distress, standing close to Alec Baldwin when the gunshot went off.
In October, the actor reached an undisclosed settlement with Halyna Hutchins’ family.
In the event of validation by a judge, it will put an end to the legal proceedings initiated in civil by the family of Mme Hutchins against Alec Baldwin who accused him of “dangerous behavior”.
She also denounced the cost-cutting measures decided by the producers of the film, including Mr. Baldwin, having according to them led to the death of the director of photography.
An investigation in New Mexico remains ongoing and could lead to possible criminal charges.
Production on the film is set to resume in January 2023.