'Only to obtain compensation': Alec Baldwin wants lawsuit by Halyna Hutchins' parents be dismissed, says 'they have no viable cause of action'
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Alec Baldwin has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the parents and sister of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who was shot and killed on the set of the movie 'Rust' in October 2021. In court documents filed on Thursday, Baldwin argued that the plaintiffs had "no viable cause of action" against him and the other defendants named in the suit, and had only filed the lawsuit in order to "obtain compensation" for Hutchins' death.
Hutchins' parents and sister filed the lawsuit in February, naming Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, assistant director David Halls, and 'Rust' Movie Productions, LLC as defendants. Baldwin, Gutierrez-Reed, and Halls were all charged in connection with Hutchins' death, with Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and Halls facing charges of the negligent use of a deadly weapon.
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'Baldwin says the Lawsuit is misguided'
In his court filing, Baldwin argued that the plaintiffs had been "distanced from Halyna physically, financially, and emotionally for years before her death," and that their lawsuit was "especially misguided," Deadline reported. He also referenced a previous lawsuit filed against him by Hutchins' husband, Matthew Hutchins, which was settled in October 2022.
Baldwin said that he believed the settlement with Hutchins' husband "should have been the end of the matter," but that the new lawsuit had surfaced regardless. He called on the judge to dismiss the plaintiffs' complaint "with prejudice," meaning that they would be barred from refiling the same claims in the future.
Once again avoiding responsibility: Lawyer
"We are not surprised Alec Baldwin is once again attempting to avoid responsibility for what he did,” the lawyer told the publication. "It’s abundantly clear under New Mexico law, which will be applied in the California court, that he is responsible for all the harm he did to the entirety of Halyna Hutchins’ family. We are here to make sure that he is held accountable for his actions.”
Baldwin denied any wrongdoing in connection with Hutchins' death
On March 29, Santa Fe DA Mary Carmack-Altwies withdrew from the case and named New Mexico attorneys Jason Lewis and Kari Morrissey to serve as special prosecutors. Carmack-Altwies voluntarily withdrew a firearm enhancement that carried a five-year jail sentence on February 20 after defense attorneys said it was "unconstitutional."
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 9. Baldwin has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Hutchins' death and has maintained that he believed the gun he was handling was safe and that he had been told it was a "cold" weapon with no live rounds in it.