Alec Baldwin and ‘Rust’ Production Company Sued by Halyna Hutchins’ Ukrainian Relatives in New Lawsuit

Actor Alec Baldwin attends the 2019 PEN America Literary Gala In New York on May 21, 2019. Attorneys for the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was shot and killed on the set of the film 'Rust,' say they're suing Baldwin and the movie’s producers for wrongful death. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File

Alec Baldwin is being sued by Halyna Hutchins’ Ukrainian relatives in a civil lawsuit over the cinematographer’s death in New Mexico during the filming of “Rust” in October 2021, attorney Gloria Allred said on Thursday.

“We have filed a lawsuit today in Los Angeles County’s superior court against Alec Baldwin, producers of “Rust,” and other defendants who may have been responsible for the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins,” Allred said in a press conference.

The new lawsuit was filed on behalf of Hutchins’ parents and younger sister. The complaints include battery, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and loss of consortium.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages as well as legal costs.

(Left) Halyna Hutchins in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 28, 2019. (Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie); (Right) Alec Baldwin in East Hampton, N.Y., on Oct. 7, 2021. Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for National Geographic

“Halyna’s plan and her family’s plan was always for Halyna to bring her family to the United States so that they could be together. But now her mother and sister know that their dream to be together with Halyna, Matt, and their grandson Andros, will never happen,” said Allred.

The announcement comes after a Santa Fe prosecutor on Jan. 31 criminally charged Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter and accused him of reckless disregard for safety.

In October 2022, Baldwin and the production company reached a settlement with Matthew Hutchins, Halyna Hutchins’ widower. Part of the settlement calls for Matthew Hutchins to be an executive producer on “Rust” as it is set to resume filming this year.

This aerial photo shows the movie set of 'Rust' at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 23, 2021. Jae C. Hong/AP Photo/File

Allred said the settlement with Matt Hutchins was for him and the couple’s son, while she was representing other members of the family who also deserve accountability and justice. The family’s attorney also claims that Baldwin and the film production team have not reached out to these family members.

Baldwin and movie set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are also facing criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter in New Mexico District Court. Assistant director David Halls has agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges.

In a 2021 television interview, Baldwin said he was told the gun was empty and Hutchins directed him to point it toward the camera and cock it. He said the revolver fired when he let go of the hammer and he did not pull the trigger.

An FBI test of the revolver found it would not fire unless the trigger was pulled.

Reuters contributed to this report.