Former member of "Rust" rejects sabotage 0:59
(CNN)
"Rust" script supervisor Mamie Mitchell has filed a lawsuit against actor / producer Alec Baldwin and other production figures for the shooting on the set that killed the director of photography for the movie.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, accuses Baldwin of having chosen to "play Russian roulette by firing a gun without checking it and without the gunsmith checking it in his presence," Mitchell's attorney, Gloria Allred, said Wednesday. during a press conference in which the lawsuit was announced.
"Rust" Film Lighting Chief Sues Baldwin and Other Team Members
The lawsuit comes weeks after Baldwin fired a gun on set Oct. 21 that contained what investigators called an alleged real bullet, killing 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. , 48. Alec Baldwin should have assumed that the weapon in question was loaded until it was proven or proven that it was not, "the lawsuit states.
In addition to Baldwin, the lawsuit names the film's production company, Rust Movie Productions, gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez Reed, assistant director David Halls and other members of the production.
Allred said the film's production team did not follow industry protocols, creating an environment where "injuries and death were more than a possibility, they were a likely outcome."
In the Mitchell lawsuit, Gutierrez Reed is accused of allowing the gun to go unattended during a lunch break in a food cart outside the building where the shooting took place on the film's set in New Mexico.
Gutierrez Reed's attorneys claimed that the live bullets reached a blank ammunition box through "sabotage," but they have not provided evidence to support the charge.
They have also said that she is devastated and heartbroken by the tragedy and that she is cooperating with the investigation.
advertising
The "Rust" weapons officer thought she had loaded the gun with blank rounds, according to her lawyer.
Mitchell is seeking financial compensation because "she was shocked, traumatized and ... physically and emotionally harmed by what she saw, heard and experienced when she was in the line of fire," Allred said during the news conference.
The script supervisor, a 40-year industry veteran, has not worked since the shooting.
The Santa Fe Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting and has not yet released its findings.
Mitchell's lawsuit follows a similar one filed last week by Rust lighting chief Serge Svetnoy who sued Baldwin, Halls, Gutierrez Reed and others for negligence that caused him "serious emotional damage."
CNN contacted the production company and representatives for Baldwin, Halls and Gutierrez Reed for comment.
Baldwin previously said that he is cooperating with investigators, adding that he is eager to learn the results of the investigation.
Baldwin said authorities instructed him not to speak about the ongoing investigation.
And Rust Movie Productions said that the safety of the cast is "the highest priority."
"Although we are not aware of any official complaints related to the safety of weapons or props on set, we will carry out an internal review of our procedures while production is stopped," the company said.
"Rust" Gunsmith Attorneys Allege Possible Sabotage On Set
Mitchell describes the timing of the shooting in the lawsuit
Mitchell said she was close to Hutchins and Souza when the shooting occurred and that she was the first to call 911 for help on October 21, telling them, "We need help immediately."
Mitchell described the moment the shooting occurred while reading a prepared statement during Wednesday's press conference.
"A loud, deafening shot. I was stunned. I heard someone complaining, and I turned around and the director was falling backwards and holding his upper body and I looked at Alec and saw Halyna fall to my left." Mitchell said.
Mitchell's lawsuit says Halls turned the gun over to Baldwin before it was fired.
A search warrant affidavit filed last month says Halls yelled "cold weapon," meaning the firearms do not have real bullets, before turning the weapon over to Baldwin.
But earlier this month, Halls 'attorney Lisa Torraco told Fox News that it was not Halls' job to check the weapon.
Assistant director of "Rust" acknowledges that he did not completely review Alec Baldwin's gun
"He is not responsible for checking it. (...) That is not the job of the assistant director. If you decide to check the firearm because you want to make sure everyone is safe, you can do it, but it is not your responsibility. "said Torraco.
Mitchell's lawsuit singles out Baldwin for not checking the gun before using it.
"He had no right to rely on an alleged statement by the assistant director that it was a 'cold weapon,'" the suit states, referring to Baldwin.
Allred, Mitchell's attorney, added that Baldwin unexpectedly discharged the weapon, even though there was no rehearsal scheduled at the time, noting that even though the scene was being filmed, it did not include the firing of a gun.
The lawsuit also claims that Mitchell believes there were two previous mis-shooting incidents: one by Baldwin's doppelganger and "a prop master accidentally shot himself in the foot."
- CNN's Sandra Gonzalez contributed to this report.
Alec BaldwinRust
