Actor Alec Baldwin is once again facing a new lawsuit after the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” in October 2021.
Three crew members from the set of the Western film – Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin, and Reese Price – have filed a new lawsuit against the “30 Rock” actor and “Rust” producers alleging negligence.
‘Rust’ Crew Members Claim Alec Baldwin Pulled The Trigger In Fatal Shooting In New Lawsuit
According to the lawsuit filed earlier this week, obtained by Deadline, Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin, and Reese Price all claim that they were inside the church and standing by Halyna Hutchins when the gun went off.
The legal documents state, “On October 21, 2021, Defendant Alexander R Baldwin Ill fired a Colt 45 revolver towards the crew on the set of the movie Rust, killing the film’s Director of Photography — Halyna Hutchins — and injuring Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin, and Reese Price,” who are referred to as the “Plaintiffs” throughout the court papers.
“These injuries were caused by Defendants’ failure to follow industry safety rules,” the court documents allege. “Defendants cut corners; ignored reports of multiple, unscripted firearms discharges; and persisted, rushed and understaffed, to finish the film.”
This new lawsuit claims that “on his third draw, Defendant Baldwin cocked the hammer of the revolver with the trigger pulled and fired it towards the crew striking Hutchins, and injuring Plaintiffs.”
‘Rust’ Crew Members Recall The First Moments After The Gun Went Off
Some of the lawsuit described the events in the aftermath of the shooting in vivid detail. Reese Price claims that he “saw the muzzle flash of the revolver in Defendant Baldwin’s hand. He felt the physical force of the gunfire in the small space. His ears began to ring. He felt as if everything was moving in slow motion. He saw Souza screaming and crawling away from Defendant Baldwin. Desperate and scared, crew members began to yank Plaintiff Price by the shirt and out of the church. Plaintiff Price realized the revolver had been fired towards him and his colleagues.”
Ross Addiego claims that he saw the same flash and “felt the same disorienting sound, force, and physical trauma from the gunshot. He heard Souza’s muffled screams and began to navigate the chaos. He became aware that he had just witnessed Defendant Baldwin fire the revolver towards him and the group in which he was standing.”
Addiego recalled Hutchins and Souza both falling to the ground. The court documents go on to state that Addiego “saw a hole in the front of Souza’s sweatshirt. Assisted by another crew member and the set medic, Plaintiff Addiego removed Souza’s shirt and rolled him over. Souza’s scapula was shattered, and a bullet was lodged just beneath his skin. Plaintiff Addiego applied pressure to Souza’s wound until emergency medical professionals arrived.”
Doran Curtin claims that she also felt the “same sound, force, and physical trauma” from the gunshot. “She watched Hutchins fall to the ground right in front of her,” the court documents state. “With Hutchins at her feet, other crew members instructed Plaintiff Curtin to remove Hutchins’ headset. She bent down and removed the equipment from Hutchins’ head. 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,” the papers go on to say. “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.”
Crew Members Are Suing For Loss Of ‘Enjoyment Of Life’ Among Other Things
The court documents state “Plaintiffs are entitled to damages for their injuries caused by Defendants’ negligent and reckless conduct;” however, no amount of damages is specified in the lawsuit.
Instead, the filing is looking for “compensatory and punitive damages, jointly and severally,” for loss of “enjoyment of life” and loss of “value of lost earnings and present cash value of earning capacity.”
Alec Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger in several interviews given after the shooting. Last month, the 64-year-old actor pled not guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter. “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was also charged.
