CZ Law & Gloria Allred Represent Family of Slain ‘Rust’ Cinematographer in New Lawsuit Against Baldwin
Gloria Allred of Allred, Maroko, and Goldberg, together with John C. Carpenter, Carlos A. Hernandez, and Alina S. Vulic of Carpenter & Zuckerman announced in a joint press conference on February 9, 2023, that they represent the family of slain “Rust” Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in a new lawsuit filed that day against Alec Baldwin, the producers of “Rust,” and others.
According to Allred, Hutchins’ parents, Olga Solovey and Anatolii Androsovych, along with her sister, Svetlana Zemko, are suing Baldwin, Rust Movie Productions, LLC, and others alleging negligence, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and loss of consortium in connection with the October 2021 shooting death of Hutchins during rehearsals for the low-budget Western film.
Although the fatal shooting occurred on the film set in New Mexico, Carpenter said the family’s lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, in part because the movie’s producers reside in Los Angeles. California law currently allows only spouses and children to sue for loss of consortium in a Wrongful Death lawsuit. However, Carpenter explained that New Mexico law allows parental loss of consortium.
“We’ll be seeking justice in California under New Mexico law,” Carpenter stated. Allred explained the decision to file the lawsuit in California as following the legal “Choice of Law” principle, which Carpenter said dictates that the law is applied from where an incident occurred. “Injured family members whose loved ones are taken away deserve justice, no matter where they are in the world,” Carpenter said.
The attorneys clarified that the family’s civil lawsuit is separate and distinct from other legal actions that have arisen from the fatal shooting, including criminal charges filed against Baldwin by the New Mexico District Attorney in January of 2023; a civil lawsuit filed by Script Supervisor Mamie Mitchel against Baldwin and “Rust” producers, in which attorneys Allred and Carpenter are also co-counsel; as well as a lawsuit that was settled between Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, and “Rust” producers.
During the conference, Allred presented photographs and poignant video of Hutchins’ family, who live in Ukraine, close to the war-torn capital of Kyiv. Carpenter said the family is “fighting the fight” in Ukraine, with Hutchins’ mother working as an emergency operating room nurse and her brother-in-law fighting on the front lines.
In a recorded video, Hutchins’ sister spoke on behalf of the family, with her mother sitting tearfully by her side. “To lose my sister…was a horrible experience, and it is one of the biggest losses of my life. And even more devastating is to see the utter suffering of our parents, and how their health has sharply declined.” Describing the family’s tragic loss of relationship with their loved one, Carpenter said, “When Halyna was taken away by Baldwin and the Rust producers, they delivered a wound that will last forever. “ Allred encapsulated the family’s profound loss with the statement: “Halyna was the light in their lives.”
Responding to a reporter’s question about what justice looks like for Hutchins’ family, Allred qualified, “Of course there’s no real justice when someone has been killed, especially if they have been killed by a criminal act.” Carpenter said the family is seeking civil accountability — ”an acknowledgement of what was taken.” Since Hutchins’ death, Allred said the family has not received an apology from Baldwin. “They haven’t heard from Alec Baldwin. The man with the gun.”
Answering one of the final questions of the press conference concerning the heart of the case, Carpenter succinctly replied, “The love that they had for each other and the love that was taken. That’s the core of the case.”
For official media coverage of the February 9, 2023 press conference, read the following news articles: