Written by Andrew Hay
(Reuters) – Alec Baldwin on Thursday filed a lawsuit against New Mexico prosecutors, sheriff's office officials and others, alleging malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the 2021 “Rust” shooting trial.
The lawsuit filed in Santa Fe court follows the dramatic dismissal of Baldwin's case during his manslaughter trial in July in New Mexico's capital.
A judge ruled that the district attorney and sheriff's office withheld evidence as to the source of the live shot that killed cinematographer Halina Hutchins.
Baldwin's action against District Attorney Carrie Morrissey, Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office Corporal Alexandria Hancock and others is among at least a dozen civil lawsuits filed over Hutchins' death that have shocked Hollywood and sparked calls for comprehensive gun safety reform on movie sets.
Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nickas and Heather LeBlanc, requested a jury trial seeking damages for abuse of process, willful misappropriation of evidence and defamation, among other complaints.
Morrissey and the Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Ukrainian cinematographer died when Baldwin pointed a gun at her, then fired it and possibly pulled the trigger as they were setting up a shot for the camera on a movie near Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to his lawyer.
Real rifle, single copy 1873 an act (WA:) The army pistol fired a live round that was inadvertently loaded by Hannah Gutierrez, the weapons handler in the film. Gutierrez was convicted of manslaughter in March and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
