Another lawsuit was filed against Baldwin: how many court cases await him because of the murder of Galina Hutchins

Three members of the crew who worked on the set of "Rust" filed a lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and the producers of the film. This is the latest in a string of lawsuits related to the death of cinematographer Galina Hutchins during a shooting on set in 2021. USAToday.

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In the lawsuit, filed Feb. 28, cinematographer Ross Addiego, costume designer Doran Curtin and cinematographer Reese Price allege that they were all standing next to Baldwin when his prop pistol, which contained a live bullet, was fired at the ranch during a rehearsal for the film.

They say they suffered "explosive injuries" when the gun suddenly went off, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Sousa. The lawsuit, filed by Albuquerque-based law firm Vigil, notes that the men are seeking damages and punitive damages.

Lawyer Jacob Vigil said on February 28 that Baldwin repeatedly ignored security issues on set, "putting the entire cast and crew at risk, tragically killing one and injuring many others, including our clients."

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What happened on the set of Rust

Rust star and film producer Baldwin walked into a small church on a western film set near Santa Fe on October 21, 2021. There, assistant director Dave Halls handed him a firearm and confirmed that the gun was not dangerous.

During rehearsal, cameraman Hutchins, who was behind the camera opposite Baldwin, asked the actor to model the hand movement he would use in the scene. As he did so, the .45 Colt suddenly fired. His single live bullet wounded Souza and killed Hutchins. Production of "The Rust" was immediately halted, but will reportedly resume soon in Montana.

After more than a year of investigation, New Mexico prosecutors have charged Baldwin and Rust gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reid with manslaughter, which carries penalties of up to 18 months in prison.

How many lawsuits have been filed over the Rust incident

More than half a dozen people, from the Rust production staff to Baldwin himself, filed lawsuits. As a result, Hollywood's use of real guns on set was scrutinized.

To date, only one of those lawsuits has reportedly been settled: one filed by Matthew Hutchins, the operator's widower, on behalf of himself and the couple's young son, Andros.

What are the timelines for Rust's lawsuits?

The first lawsuit against Baldwin and the producers was filed a few weeks after the 2021 incident by Rust lighting engineer Serge Svetny. He was by Hutchins' side when she was shot and comforted his girlfriend when the paramedics tried to save her life.

Svetnoy's lawsuit accused several people of failing to properly inspect the weapon to make sure it was free of live ammunition.

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About a week later, script supervisor Mamie Mitchell filed a lawsuit against the film's star and producers. She was standing a few meters from Baldwin when the gun went off. “This cruel tragedy has robbed me of the joy of life,” she said during a press conference announcing her lawsuit.

In February 2022, Rust's set medic Sherilne Schaefer filed a lawsuit in which she said the trauma from the incident left her unable to work. Halls, Gutierrez-Reed, property manager Sarah Zahri and firearms supplier Seth Kenny are all in the lawsuit, as are the producers and the Bonanza Creek Ranch operation itself.

Also in February 2022, Matthew Hutchins filed a lawsuit that was settled in October. "We all believe that Galina's death was a terrible accident," Hutchins said. “I’m grateful that producers and the entertainment community have come together to celebrate Galina’s latest work.”

Alec Baldwin files countersuit against 'Rust' producers

In November 2022, Baldwin filed counterclaims of his own against the four participants in the proceedings in an attempt to "clear his name", according to his lawyer.

“More than anyone else on the set, Baldwin was wrongly blamed for this tragedy,” Baldwin’s lawyer, Luke Nicas, said at the time. “With these counterclaims, Baldwin seeks to clear his name and hold those responsible accountable for their wrongful actions.”

The four defendants were; gunsmith Gutierrez-Reid, Zahri, Kenny and Halls. All denied guilt. Halls reached a plea deal with New Mexico prosecutors that would spare him jail time.

Family members of Galina Hutchins from Ukraine filed a lawsuit

On February 9, lawyer Gloria Allred called a press conference in Los Angeles to announce a new lawsuit against Baldwin and Rust Productions on behalf of Hutchins' mother, father and sister, who live in Ukraine, the operator's home country.

Allred said the lawsuit seeks damages for family members who counted on Hutchins' financial assistance and ultimately safe passage to the US from their war-torn homeland.

What's new in the "Rust" case

After nearly a year and a half of investigation, New Mexico prosecutors in early February indicted Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed on two counts of manslaughter. This accusation is used when the death is due to negligence versus malice.

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Initially, these charges carried penalties of up to five years in prison. But Baldwin's lawyers successfully argued that prosecutors incorrectly relied on a gun law that did not go into effect until after the shooting. On February 20, prosecutors announced that the charges would be reduced to 18 months in prison.

On February 23, Baldwin, through his lawyers, pleaded not guilty, refusing to appear before the judge in the case. The next day, Gutierrez-Rid appeared at the hearing on videotape and also pleaded not guilty.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• On October 21, 2021, on the set of the film, Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin accidentally shot the cameraman and wounded the director. The Ukrainian woman was killed. Sources claim that she could have filmed her own death.
• Court records show that weapons were readily available gunsmith and film director's assistant. And judging Alec Baldwin is illogical. Although it was he who was under the gun because of the fact that he is famous.
• According to sources, the set was in complete chaos with weapons. Hannah Gutierrez-Reid, the film's gunsmith, was the subject of numerous complaints while working as a gunsmith on her previous and first film, The Old Way.
• The police are checking information on Alec's phone Baldwin.
• In November, the head of the lighting team on the set of the western "Rust" (Rust) Sergey Svetnoy filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles (California) because of the shooting on the set.
• Alec Baldwin gave an interview in December for the first time since the death of cameraman Galina Hutchins, in which the actor stated that he did not pull the trigger of the revolver.
• The family of the murdered operator of the western Rust Galina Hutchins February 15 filed a wrongful death lawsuit against actor Alec Baldwin and film producers, citing cost-cutting measures as the cause of the tragedy. Relatives of the deceased accused Baldwin and others of reckless behavior.
• FBI forensics on the murder of Galina Hutchins assures that the gun could not have fired on its own, Baldwin pulled the trigger though he denies it. Court blamed for the murder of Galina Hutchins exclusively on Alec Baldwin.
• Later it became known that Alec Baldwin reached an out-of-court settlement with relatives cinematographer Galina Hutchins.
• In turn, Baldwin filed a lawsuit against several people associated with the filming of the film "Rust".
• The prosecutor's office stated that file two counts of manslaughter against Baldwin: he was obliged to ensure that weapons and ammunition were properly checked; he should never have directed it at anyone.
• On February 10, New Mexico prosecutors filed a formal indictment against Baldwin for manslaughter. Now he faces another lawsuit. from the Hutchins family, this time from her parents Anatoly Androsovich and Olga Solovey, as well as sister Svetlana Zemko.
• Baldwin won a key legal battle, as a result of which the charge of extended use of firearms in the murder of Galina Hutchins was dropped. This has drastically reduced the potential prison term he faces.
• February 24 Alec Baldwin didn't show up for the first meeting trial for the murder of Galina Hutchins.
• Read the stories of the worst tragedies and accidents that occurred directly on the set in our material.

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