In 2021, Alec Baldwin unintentionally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, prompting her family to sue Baldwin and others involved in the production of the movie “Rust.”
On Thursday, February 9, Hutchins’s father, Anatolii Androsovych, mother, Olga Solovey, and sister, Svetlana Zemko, were represented by famous attorney Gloria Allred, who announced the filing of the lawsuit on their behalf.
Attorney Gloria Allred is well-known for her representation of celebrities and her advocacy for women’s rights. She has represented plaintiffs in litigation against numerous well-known figures, such as singer R. Kelly, comedian/actor Sacha Baron Cohen, and drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue.
The defendants are being sued for damages related to their alleged negligence, battery, deliberate infliction of emotional distress, and loss of consortium.
On October 21, 2021, the 42-year-old cinematographer Hutchins was killed on the set of the movie “Rust” at a ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Baldwin was practicing a scene with a loaded firearm when it went off, killing the camerawoman and injuring the film director, Joel Souza.
The family’s attorney, Allred, said on Thursday that without Hutchins, the family will never be able to find happiness again.
While Hutchins’ Ukrainian-based family couldn’t make it to the Los Angeles press conference, they did send a short video in which Hutchins’ mother and sister gave their take on the lawsuit.
Zemko, Hutchins’ sister, said it was even more heartbreaking to see their parents suffer and decline in health since Hutchins’ death, in a video message that was translated into English.
Attorney Allred claims that Hutchins was financially supporting the family back in Ukraine, and that her clients had to deal with the tragedy of losing a loved one while simultaneously living in Ukraine in the midst of a war.
Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in January and is being sued for allegedly creating an unsafe environment on set and for being irresponsible in his handling of firearms.
Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the movie’s armorer, were both charged with involuntary manslaughter, as stated in a January press release by District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies.
Assistant Director David Halls, who was also included in the DA’s announcement, pleaded no contest to charges of negligent use of a dangerous weapon.
Baldwin has always insisted that he did nothing wrong during the incident.
It is claimed in the case that proper procedures for handling firearms on set were disregarded, which has led to the legal action. Baldwin is also accused of using a firearm without first checking it, which led to the unfortunate death of a woman.