SANTA FE, N.M. — The recent dismissal of a criminal case involving Alec Baldwin in the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins paves the way for a related civil lawsuit initiated by the victim’s family. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs confirmed on Tuesday that this development allows them to proceed with their effort to depose Baldwin under oath.
During a press conference held in Los Angeles, attorney Gloria Allred, representing Hutchins’ family, expressed their disappointment over the decision by prosecutors not to appeal the recent dismissal of an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin. This charge was dismissed midway through the trial in July due to claims that law enforcement and legal officials had failed to present crucial evidence to the defense.
Hutchins tragically lost her life following an incident during a rehearsal for the film “Rust” in October 2021. Baldwin, who served as both the lead actor and co-producer of the film, was aiming a gun at Hutchins when it discharged, resulting in her death and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin maintains that he did not pull the trigger but merely pulled back the hammer of the revolver, which unexpectedly fired.
According to Allred, the family of Hutchins is resolute in their quest for damages and compensation from Baldwin and the film’s producers, intending to file their case in New Mexico’s civil court. They are particularly focused on having Baldwin answer questions in a sworn deposition. It’s worth noting that Hutchins’ husband and son had previously arrived at a separate legal settlement.
“With the announcement made public yesterday, we are now prepared to advance our civil case,” Allred stated. She further emphasized that while Baldwin’s rights were safeguarded, the victim’s family’s rights have not been adequately respected throughout this ordeal.
Allred is prepared to establish that Hutchins had a strong bond with her family, a vital factor in their pursuit of civil damages. In filings from November regarding the civil suit, Baldwin rejected the claims of negligence and sought to maintain a suspension of the case against him. At this time, Baldwin’s legal representatives were unavailable for comments.
During the news conference, Allred shared a statement from Hutchins’ sister, Svetlana Zemko, emphasizing the necessity of accountability for Baldwin.
In a related matter, in April, a judge sentenced Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the movie’s weapons supervisor, to a maximum of 1.5 years in a state penitentiary after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in relation to Hutchins’ death.
Allred also criticized New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez for his decision not to appeal the dismissal of the charge against Baldwin, suggesting he had deprived the Hutchins family of justice during a press conference held on Christmas Eve.
In defense of this decision, a spokesperson for Attorney General Torrez, Lauren Rodriguez, outlined that the ruling was based on “significant procedural irregularities” identified by the judge during the criminal proceedings. “Attorney General Torrez will not prolong the grief and anguish of Ms. Hutchins’ family in the vain attempt to salvage the compromised criminal case against Mr. Baldwin,” Rodriguez remarked. She added that the Attorney General’s office must focus on supporting other victim’s families seeking justice in Santa Fe County and across New Mexico.
