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The family of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer shot and killed on the set of “Rust” on Oct. 21, announced the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit at a press conference Tuesday.
The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of Halyna’s husband, Matthew Hutchins, and their son, Andros, in New Mexico, names Alec Baldwin and others who “are responsible for the safety on the set” and “reckless behavior and cost-cutting” that led to the death of Hutchins, according to Hutchins’ lawyer.
Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, assistant director David Halls, production companies and producers were also named in the lawsuit.
Hutchins’ attorneys interviewed witnesses before filing the lawsuit and created a video compiling evidence for the wrongful death lawsuit.
In the video shared in the press conference, Hutchins’ lawyers reiterated claims from crew members that the “Rust” set was unsafe. The lawsuit claimed Baldwin and the “Rust” crew and cast committed “major breaches” of safety on the set of “Rust.”
Halyna Hutchins is survived by her husband, Matthew Hutchins, and son Andros Hutchins.
(Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi LLP)
“I think it’s clear what happened,” lead attorney Brian Panish told reporters. “Alec had the gun in his hand. He shot it. Halyna was killed.”
ALEC BALDWIN SPOTTED MAKING ACTING RETURN FOR FIRST TIME SINCE ‘RUST’ SHOOTING
He also said claimed that Baldwin had refused weapons training on how to cross-draw a revolver. Per Panish, Baldwin and production had “disregarded at least 15 industry standards” on the set of “Rust.”
Hutchins’ family lawyer emphasized that Baldwin was responsible for the death of Hutchins.
“Mr. Baldwin was the person holding the weapon let for him shooting him she wouldn’t have died.”
Baldwin handing over his cell phone to authorities is the most recent development in the investigation.
(Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images)
Randi McGinn, the estate’s attorney in Albuquerque, told reporters she expects the case could go to trial within a year and a half to two years.
“We’re used to people coming in from out of town to play cowboy who don’t know how to use guns,” McGinn said. “You don’t hand somebody a gun until you give them safety training… No one should ever die with a real gun on a make-believe movie set.”
Baldwin previously sat down for a tell-all interview regarding the Oct. 21 shooting where he described the moment the gun went off.
Baldwin and Hutchins were setting up for a shot where the actor was supposed to draw the gun and point it at a camera. While standing next to the camera, the cinematographer was “guiding” Baldwin on where to point the gun, he said. “The gun wasn’t meant to be fired in that angle,” he confirmed.
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Hutchins was killed on the set of the film “Rust.”
(Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi LLP)
Authorities have said Baldwin was told the gun was safe to handle but continue to investigate how a live round ended up in the weapon. Investigators have described “some complacency” in how weapons were handled on the “Rust” set. They have said it is too soon to determine whether charges will be filed, amid lawsuits concerning liability in the fatal shooting.
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Baldwin handing over his cell phone to authorities is the most recent development in the investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
