Producers of the Western film "Rust" announced on Friday that they had reached an agreement to pay a $100,000 legal penalty for "serious" workplace safety violations that occurred before cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on a New Mexico set in 2021.
Rust Movie Productions (RMP) was penalized with the highest fine allowed by New Mexico's worker safety office last year for what it called the company's "plain disregard" for the risks posed by improper handling of weapons and unintentional discharges of firearms on set.
Alec Baldwin, who was using a gun during a rehearsal, accidentally discharged a live round at Hutchins, killing him. Joel Souza, the director, was hurt.
According to a statement from the state's Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB), "RMP violated workplace safety laws by exposing workers to being struck by discharged rounds or projectiles when firearms were used on the set."
The OHSB reported that RMP's fine, which was reduced from an initial citation of $136,793, marked the largest workplace safety penalty in New Mexico in more than ten years.
In a statement, Melina Spadone, an attorney for RMP, said, "Our top goal has always been picking up production again and finishing this movie so we can honor the life and work of Halyna Hutchins." The best way to proceed in this situation is to settle rather than litigate.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, an armorer in Rust, has faulted the movie's creators for not allotting enough time for firearms instruction. On December 7, she informed the OHSB that Baldwin's lack of proficiency and "poor form" when handling a revolver may have contributed to the fatal mishap that claimed Hutchins' life.
On December 20, Rust Line Producer Gabrielle Pickle informed the organization that Gutierrez-demands Reed's for additional armorer days had been met.
Involuntary manslaughter charges have been brought against Gutierrez-Reed, who accidentally loaded live ammunition into the pistol Baldwin used to kill himself. Her attorney announced that she would enter a not-guilty plea at her Friday first court appearance. Baldwin entered a not-guilty plea to the same allegation on Thursday.
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