Alec Baldwin is facing yet another legal battle after the Rust shooting!
Three crew members who say they were on the scene when Alec shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film in New Mexico are now suing the actor, claiming it was a tragedy waiting to happen.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Ross Addiego (the dolly operator), Doran Curtin (the set costumer), and Reese Price (the key grip) are suing the film’s star and the Rust production team, claiming they were 3 of 7 people inside the church on the fateful day, and because of such, they were put in harm’s way and faced with emotional distress (such as post-traumatic stress disorder) after the fact.
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All three crew members were in close proximity to Baldwin when the gun went off, causing them to suffer “blast injuries” from the deafening sound of the gunshot. According to the complaint obtained by Variety, Halyna fell directly in front of Doran after getting injured, the lawsuit stated:
“She watched in shock as Hutchins grabbed at her abdomen. Plaintiff Curtin put her hands on Hutchins’ stomach, trying to find the source of Hutchins’ pain and figure out what was going on. As the chaos continued, Plaintiff Curtin was ushered out of the church. Once outside, she collapsed from the effects of the blast and the shock of the shooting.”
Must have been so traumatic!
The lawsuit goes on to allege that the producers cut numerous corners throughout the production, including by hiring people who had been subject to previous safety complaints, such as the first assistant director David Halls. The production team was also blasted for prioritizing a “quick and cheap production” rather than hiring the best person for the job. The docs specifically called into question the decision to hire armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed even though she “lacked essential experience.”
The crew then took aim at the 30 Rock alum for not paying attention during weapons training, for failing to ensure the gun was not loaded with a live bullet, and for discharging the round. The employees also called out the producers for choosing to use “operable firearms” during 17 of the 21 scheduled filming days rather than safer alternatives like replicas, rubber prop guns, or special effects, according to TMZ. Similarly, they blamed those in charge for failing to properly investigate previous accidental discharges that happened prior to the tragic incident. This pattern of cutting corners is what these three crew members believe led directly to the on-set death. Wow.
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As for what happened on that day, the plaintiffs claim Gutierrez-Reed told Halls she hadn’t had a chance to check the gun. David then handed it off to Alec, calling it “cold” without checking! WTF? That does seem like an obvious moment of neglect, if true. For what it’s worth, Halls has already agreed to plead no contest to a misdemeanor count of discharging a dangerous weapon. According to the witnesses, Alec also didn’t check the gun before starting the tech rehearsal, which resulted in the gun firing a live round, killing Halyna and hitting director Joel Souza. According to the crew members, they were forced to spring into action and asset those in need, something that haunts them to this day. They are suing for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress while asking for unspecified damages.
This comes amid several other lawsuits the Boss Baby star has been dealing with since the incident occurred in 2021, including lawsuits from other crew members, including the script supervisor, set medic, and gaffer. Interestingly, in October, he settled a case with Halyna’s husband Matthew Hutchins which will allow the film to be completed. The Rust crew is expected to resume production in the spring in Montana, with Alec still at the helm. Last week, the production company also agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a workplace safety citation from the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau.
In the meantime, the 64-year-old is facing a criminal charge of involuntary manslaughter which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison. He has pleaded not guilty, and he’s clearly not going down without a fight! But he’s got a tricky battle ahead of him! And now, he’ll have to add this latest lawsuit to the pile, too. Those interested can read the full legal filing HERE. Thoughts? Let us know (below)!
[Image via FayesVision/MEGA/WENN/Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office]
The post Alec Baldwin Sued By <i>Rust</i> Crew Members Who Saw The Shooting -- Claims Of 'Blast Injuries' & PTSD appeared first on Perez Hilton.