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Three members of the cast of the film "Rust" filed a lawsuit against actor Alec Baldwin and the film's producer on Monday, alleging that they suffered trauma as a result of the shooting death of cameraman Halyne Hutchins.
The plaintiffs, Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin, and Reese Price, claim that they experienced anxiety and symptoms of PTSD after the shooting incident
.The Incident and Its Aftermath
According to the indictment, all three plaintiffs were in close proximity to Baldwin when he fired the gun, leading to "blast injuries" from the deafening sound of the shot.
The complaint states that Hutchins fell to the ground in front of Curtin, and that she watched in shock as Hutchins grabbed at her abdomen. The lawsuit alleges that Curtin put her hands on Hutchins' stomach in an attempt to find the source of her pain and figure out what was happening.
As the chaos continued, Curtin was ushered out of the church and collapsed from the effects of the blast and the shock of the shooting. “She watched in shock as Hutchins grabbed at her abdomen,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiff Curtin put her hands on Hutchins’ stomach, trying to find the source of Hutchins’ pain and figure out what was going on.
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”.
Allegations against the Producers
The lawsuit also blames the producers for hiring people who were the subject of previous safety complaints, including David Halls, the first assistant director.
Additionally, the lawsuit accuses the producers of hiring Hannah Gutierrez Reed, despite her lack of experience, in order to achieve a faster and cheaper production.
The outcome of the Lawsuit
It is important to note that Baldwin was recently acquitted of a lawsuit related to the use of firearms.
If the charge had gone through, Baldwin would have faced at least five years in prison. However, since it was dismissed, the judge could give him a manslaughter sentence that includes 18 months in prison or even probation. The three plaintiffs in the "Rust" lawsuit are seeking compensation for the trauma they experienced following the shooting death of their co-star.
The outcome of the lawsuit remains to be seen, but it highlights the serious effects that violent incidents on film sets can have on cast and crew members.