Alec Baldwin has to face another lawsuit: Because the Hollywood star shot a camerawoman while filming, her family insists on compensation.
Coming to court: US -Actor Alec Baldwin
The US actor Alec Baldwin is facing another lawsuit after a camerawoman was fatally shot during a Western film shoot. The parents and sister of slain cinematographer Halyna Hutchins will pursue a civil lawsuit against Baldwin and others involved in the 'Rust' shoot, attorney Gloria Allred said. Baldwin had already settled out of court with Hutchins' widower. A criminal trial against him is still ongoing.
Family lives in Ukraine
The family of the camerawoman, who lives near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, is now demanding undisclosed damages from the leading actor and co-producer of the Western. The civil lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles.
The accident happened on a western film set in New Mexico
“Obviously, all three of our clients are heartbroken by the tragic loss of their daughter and sister,” Allred said. “But now, on top of this tragedy, they have to deal with the loss while living in the midst of Putin's war in Ukraine,” the lawyer said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hutchins' mother, Olga Solowey, is a surgical nurse taking care of those injured in the skirmishes.
Baldwin is already facing criminal charges
At the end of January, the actor was already faced with a criminal case for negligence charged with murder. If convicted, Baldwin faces imprisonment.
After evaluating the investigation into the incident, there was sufficient evidence for criminal prosecution, the public prosecutor in the US state of New Mexico said at the time. The Hollywood actor is charged with manslaughter. Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed also has to answer in court.
Baldwin's lawyer speaks of “miscarriage of justice”
“This decision disfigures the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins and constitutes a horrific miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the film set,” Baldwin's attorney, Luke Nikas, commented on the criminal charges .
Halyna Hutchins was the chief cinematographer on filming at a Santa Fe movie ranch in October 2021. Baldwin, who starred and produced the film, was operating a gun in rehearsal for a scene when a gunshot went off that killed Hutchins mortally wounded. Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder by the projectile and injured in the incident. Investigations revealed that the Colt had a real bullet in it. Baldwin had always denied responsibility for the fatal accident. He had already been fined.
The fatal shot was fired on the film set of “Rust” (archive image)
Out-of-court settlement with relatives
A civil lawsuit filed by Matthew Hutchins, the cinematographer's widower and father of their son, against Baldwin and others involved in the production of “Rust” was settled out of court last October. “We all believe that Halyna's death was a terrible accident,” the widower said at the time. He has no interest in blaming Baldwin and the film producers. Instead, they should pay tribute to the camerawoman's latest work and continue shooting “Rust”.
kt/ka/qu/pg (afp, dpa)
The article from 19.1. 23 has been updated