The long-running legal saga surrounding the tragic "Rust" movie set shooting takes a new turn as Halyna Hutchins' family seeks justice through civil proceedings.
According to ABC News, the conclusion of Alec Baldwin's criminal case involving the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has cleared the path for her family's civil lawsuit to proceed.
The development comes after prosecutors decided not to appeal the dismissal of involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin, which occurred midway through the trial in July.
The criminal charges were dismissed due to allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. The incident took place during a rehearsal for the movie "Rust" in October 2021 at a film-set ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Baldwin was both lead actor and co-producer.
Family Attorney Gloria Allred Leads Charge Against Baldwin Defense
Victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred, representing Hutchins' parents and younger sister, expressed their disappointment with the prosecution's decision at a Los Angeles news conference.
The family remains determined to pursue damages and compensation from Baldwin and "Rust" producers in New Mexico civil court. This legal action is separate from the previous settlement reached with Hutchins' widower and son.
Speaking on behalf of Hutchins' sister, Svetlana Zemko, Allred shared: "Mr. Baldwin must be held accountable."
The attorney emphasized their readiness to demonstrate the close relationship between Hutchins and her family members, a crucial element for seeking civil damages. Baldwin's legal team has previously denied negligence allegations and sought to suspend the civil case in November court filings.
Criminal Case Resolution Reveals Complex Legal Landscape
The case's criminal aspects concluded with movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed receiving a maximum sentence of 1½ years in the state penitentiary for involuntary manslaughter in April. Baldwin maintains that while he pulled back the hammer of the pistol that killed Hutchins, he did not pull the trigger before it discharged.
Allred criticized New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez's decision not to appeal the criminal charge dismissal, colorfully dubbing him "the Grinch who stole Christmas" during the Christmas Eve news conference. Torrez's office defended the decision through spokesperson Lauren Rodriguez, who explained:
Attorney General Torrez will not prolong the grief and anguish of Ms. Hutchins' family in the vain attempt to salvage the compromised criminal case against Mr. Baldwin. There are other victims' families in Santa Fe County and across New Mexico who are awaiting justice, and our energy needs to be devoted to supporting those cases on appeal.
Moving Forward In Search Of Resolution
The civil lawsuit represents the remaining avenue for Hutchins' family to seek accountability for her death. The legal proceedings will focus on establishing Baldwin's responsibility for the incident and determining appropriate compensation for the family's loss.
Baldwin's team's response to the civil suit and their strategy moving forward remains to be seen, as their attorneys were unavailable for immediate comment.
What Lies Ahead For The Rust Shooting Case
Alec Baldwin faces a civil lawsuit from Halyna Hutchins' parents and sister following the dismissal of criminal charges in the fatal "Rust" movie set shooting. The incident occurred during a film rehearsal in October 2021 near Santa Fe, where Baldwin was handling a pistol that discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
The civil proceedings will now move forward in New Mexico court, where the family seeks compensation and aims to depose Baldwin under oath, separate from an earlier settlement reached with Hutchins' immediate family.
