The lawsuit of the supervisor of the script “Rust” can ask for punitive damages, rules of the judge – update

Updated, 16:14: A Los Angeles Supreme Court judge found Memi Mitchell, the screenwriter, standing next to director Halina Hutchins when actress Alec Baldwin shot her to death. Oxide The film set may require punitive damages from some producers who have tried to cause harm.

Judge Michael Whitaker heard the arguments Thursday and ruled in favor of Mitchell and the defendants Rust Movie Productions LLC, Thomasville Pictures LLC, Ryan Smith and Langley Cheney.

“For procedural purposes, the court considers that the first amended complaint substantiates the facts that it is sufficient to establish abusive conduct by knowingly and voluntarily ignoring the rights or safety of others in the transfer of the accused,” the judge wrote.

Whitaker also noted that Mitchell’s attorneys said the four defendants “deliberately launched a low-budget cost-cutting scheme known to create dangerous conditions for film crews, which led to the relocation of defendants to provide security protocols. basic. Use of firearms “.

In court documents, Mitchell’s lawyers said the producers “did not deliberately hire experienced crew members to direct and develop the many weapons that would be used in the film.”

Read more about the cause below.

First, January 24: More than two months later the head of the script Oxide A lawsuit has been filed against Alec Baldwin and other producers over the fatal shooting of director Halina Hutchinson in Indy Western New Mexico, with the defendants seeking to have the action overturned by a California judge.

“Nothing in the actor’s memoirs suggests that any of the defendants, including Mr. Baldwin, intended to load live ammunition with ammunition,” replied Baldwin, Rust Movie Productions, LLC, El Dorado Pictures, Inc., Ryan Donnell Smith, Langley. . Allen Cheney, Thomasville Pictures, LLC, Anjul Nigam, Matthew DelPiano, and Cavalry Media, Inc., who were “wrongly sued as Calvary Media, Inc.” The statement is read in response to Father Mitchell’s lawsuit dated November 17, 2021. “Furthermore, there is no evidence in the plaintiff’s allegations that none of the defendants knew that the firearm contained live bullets,” the defendants’ memo reads. who accompanied his applicant on Monday (read here).

“The absence of such allegations is obviously logical, as the incident is clearly unprecedented in the film industry,” adds a document that clearly does not take into account past films such as the 1994 filming of Brandon Lee. Ყ ვავი. “Since the three plaintiffs ‘allegations are based on allegations of negligence that led to an accident at work, they should be dismissed because their only remedy is the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Act and not a civil lawsuit filed in New Mexico. , a state court in California. The presentation adds

While the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate what is terribly wrong Oxide On October 21 last year, Baldwin and his fellow producers, Pillsbury Winthrop attorneys Shaw Pittman LLP, requested a February 24 hearing on Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael E. Dismiss Mitchell’s case before Whitaker.

We might add that Mitchell is represented by Gloria Olred, who is not known to have retreated in battle. Indeed, Alred’s complaint filed in the LASC document last fall appears to have called for such a fight.

“Alec Baldwin should have thought the gun was loaded had it not been shown to him or verified that it was not loaded,” the file announced at a press conference offered by Mitchell and Alred shortly after the filing of the document. Costume. “I did not have the right to trust some of the alleged allegations made by the Deputy Director that it was a ‘cold steel weapon,'” a large damages lawsuit in the case of Deputy Director David Halls said.

“Mr. Baldwin couldn’t hide behind the assistant principal to try and justify not checking the gun himself,” continued Mitchell, who was actually at the Bonanza Creek Ranch church when the “quick draw was tried. “by Baldovino. Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.

He later admitted that he had not properly studied the weapon with actor Hall. Oxide Hannah Gutierrez Reed armor was the focus of the sheriff’s investigation. When his lawyers came up with the idea of ​​sabotaging a product that presented safety and work issues, Gutierrez Reed earlier this month filed a lawsuit against so-called movie mentor / armor Seth Ken and his company PDQ Arm and , based in Albuquerque. Go back. .

Even in the case of some shots and strains on Baldwin’s cell phone speaking to the media, the police and de facto Santa Fe prosecutor have not arrested or charged anyone for it. Oxide shot.

Slightly offended by the allegations of Mary Mitchell’s assault, intentional emotional distress, and other lawsuits, the producers of Rust are still continuing the internal investigation announced on October 22, 2021. This review may be nearing the end I’ve heard, but not yet. . it’s nothing official

Eric Pedersen and City News Service contributed to this report.