The Department of Employment Security of the state of New Mexico (USA) fined this Wednesday with almost 140,000 dollars to the producers of the filming of ‘Rust’in which Alec Baldwin killed from an accidental shot to the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
“There is more than enough evidence to suggest that if industry standards had been followed, the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins would never have occurred,” the agency said in a report. The department concluded that the event was caused by a “complete failure of the employer to follow the protocols that keep employees safe.”
Hutchins’ family has sued Baldwin
The investigation will help the lawyers of the family of Halyna Hutchins, who last February formally sued Baldwin for reckless homicide.
The lawsuit was filed in the state of New Mexico against the actor (who also worked as a producer) and “others responsible for the security of the set during filming,” said the family’s lawyer, Brian Panish.
Panish described alleged negligent or reckless conduct by Baldwin along with the ‘Rust’ production team and assistant directors. For their part, the actor’s lawyers requested that the conflict be resolved through legal arbitration.
“Baldwin relied on other professionals to be prepared to do their jobs. He had never been involved in any security issues on set and had used weapons in at least twelve films,” they defended in a statement.
Security protocols were not followed
Days after the event, the sheriff of the town of Santa Fe, Adan Mendoza, said that he had found some 500 rounds of ammunition in the studioamong which was a mix of “blank cartridges, fake bullets and real bullets”so the security protocols were not followed, but it did not point to a specific culprit.
Statements from crew members who worked on the set of ‘Rust’ describe a precarious work environment in which the protests piled up and for which half a dozen employees resigned the same day of the accident.
The research about possible criminal charges is still open.
Source: Lasexta
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
