Rust Movie Productions Wants Out Of A Lawsuit Involving On-Site Medic

Rust Movie Productions is trying to get out of a lawsuit against on-site medic Cherlyn Schaefer, who sued the company after treating cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ fatal gunshot wound in October 2021.

According to new court documents obtained by The Blast, the production company behind the Western film filed a motion for a partial summary judgment earlier this week, claiming she did not suffer any direct injuries and did not witness the shooting.

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Rust Movie Productions is trying to get out of a lawsuit filed by on-site medic Cherlyn Schaefer, who treated Halyna Hutchins on October 21, 2021. While rehearsing a scene inside a church, Alec Baldwin accidentally shot the cinematographer and director Joel Souza with a single live bullet fired from a Colt .45 revolver.

Schaefer had been hired to serve as the set medic, but she had been “on a lunch break sitting on the tailgate of an electric Ford truck” when the incident took place. However, she was “not far from the church when she heard a really loud bang.”

According to the court filing, she “knew something wasn’t right and entered through the church doors to find Halyna Hutchins sitting or leaning against a pew and Joel Souza standing. After calling 911, [the medic] began treating Halyna Hutchins’ gunshot wound until emergency paramedics arrived.” Unfortunately, Hutchins passed away from her injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital.

On February 4, the medic filed a lawsuit against the production company alleging negligence, emotional distress, and several other counts. However, according to the production company in this latest filing, “admitted she did not suffer any direct injuries, but only the physical manifestations of shock, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and emotional distress caused by the incident.”

They also note that she was not related to anyone involved in the shooting and did not witness the shooting herself, so they claim that her lawsuit has no merit and are asking the court for it to be dismissed.

In January 2023, both actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who also did not witness the shooting, were charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. In spring 2023, the charges against Baldwin were dropped pending further investigation. However, involuntary manslaughter charges were filed against the actor in January 2024 after an investigation into the gun allegedly proved that it could not have fired without the trigger being pulled.

Baldwin firmly maintains that he did not pull the trigger on the gun and entered a not guilty plea on January 31. A trial for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was scheduled for December 2023 and pushed back to February 2024. She has also entered a plea of not guilty. A trial for the “30 Rock” actor was scheduled for August 6, 2024; however, it was reportedly canceled due to a judge reassignment, according to Entertainment Tonight.

According to the conditions of his release, the actor may not possess any firearms or other weapons. He may not drink alcohol or imbibe drugs. He must obey all local, state, and federal laws, and is prohibited from leaving the U.S. without written permission. He is also not allowed to contact any “Rust” witnesses unless it is related to “Rust” business.

“Defendant is permitted to have contact with potential witnesses only in the capacity laid out herein: In connection with the Rust movie and other related and unrelated business matters: provided, however, that Defendant is not permitted to discuss the accident at issue, or the substance of his or the witness’s potential testimony in this case,” the court filing states.

“The Defendant is permitted to continue to utilize Matthew DelPiano as his agent,” the documents add. “Discussion about the incident is permitted with the witnesses who are named as civil co-defendants only so long as such conversations are held exclusively in the presence of attorneys for civil litigation purposes.”

The “Supercell” actor has also been ordered not to “directly or indirectly solicit witnesses or members of the cast and crew to participate in the documentary with Moxie films or to obtain statements regarding safety on the Rust set outside of standard investigative procedures.”