‘Rust’ Crew Reaches Settlement in Lawsuit Against Producers and Alec Baldwin After Fatal Shooting Incident

SANTA FE, N.M. — A settlement has been reached regarding a civil lawsuit that alleged negligence linked to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film “Rust.” Court documents released on Friday indicate that the lawsuit was filed by three crew members from the film, seeking compensation for emotional distress from its producers, including Alec Baldwin, who serves as both co-producer and lead actor. The plaintiffs accused the producers of failing to adhere to industry safety standards, a claim that the producers denied.

While the specific details of the settlement remain confidential, attorneys for both the producers and the plaintiffs were unavailable for immediate comment. Among the plaintiffs is Ross Addiego, a crew member who witnessed the tragic incident in close proximity during a rehearsal in October 2021 at a ranch outside Santa Fe. The fatal event occurred while Baldwin was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a scene, resulting in her death and injuring director Joel Souza.

Previously, Baldwin faced a charge of involuntary manslaughter, but that charge was dismissed at trial last year due to allegations that police and prosecutors withheld critical evidence from the defense. In a separate case, “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for unintentionally bringing live ammunition onto the set and neglecting basic gun safety protocols. She served an 18-month sentence, which was completed in May.

The production of “Rust” eventually moved to Montana, where filming was finalized. The completed film was released in theaters in May.