A Lawsuit Has Been Filed
Just weeks have passed since actor Alec Baldwin misfired a prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. If it has not already been hard for the 62-year-old, it just got a lot worse. A lawsuit against the star has been filed, and let’s just say this actor can not run from this one.
The fatal tragedy happened on the set of Rust last month in October, and unfortunately, now Baldwin is to face a lawsuit from one of the movie’s crew members.
Court documents obtained by multiple news outlets show the movie’s electrician, Serge Svetnoy, filed a lawsuit against Baldwin and the production team. These individuals include the movie’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, and the film’s assistant director, Dave Halls, crew members, and lastly producers.
The suit comes a little over two weeks after Baldwin pulled the firearm.
The Lawsuit
According to the lawsuit, the movie set did not call for Baldwin to pull the trigger. However, in the scene, Baldwin was supposed to take out the gun and aim it towards the camera. “But the scene did not require Defendant Baldwin to fire the Colt Revolver,” Svetony states in the lawsuit.
Svetony also claims the defendants’ alleged negligence led to his severe emotional distress in the aftermath of the incident. It started after Baldwin discharged a gun being used as a prop that led to Hutchins’ death and Souza’s injury.
The “Rust” set member claims the bullet that struck both individuals and nearly hit him too. And that ultimately, he was the one who consoled the cinematographer and kept her conscious. In a Facebook post shared in October after her death, Svetony was there for Hutchins in her last few moments.
“I was right beside Halyna when the fatal shot occurred, causing her death and injuring director Joel Souza,” Svetnoy remembered in the October post. “I held her in my arms as she passed away, with her blood staining my hands.”
“Yet acted and continued to act”
After the tragic incident, Alec Baldwin, and the film’s production company each released statements to address the matter. Baldwin, earlier this month, gave his first interview on camera about Hutchins, calling her his “friend.”
“They knew that their conduct created a substantial risk of significant harm and risk of death,” Svetnoy’s suit says.
The person behaved in a highly reckless and irresponsible manner, showing complete disregard for the safety and well-being of the cast and crew of ‘Rust.’
Investigations are still to happen, but sources say Halyna’s husband, Matt Hutchins, has retained legal counsel over the fatal shooting and reportedly plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
