Alec Baldwin has replaced one of the attorneys who has represented his company from the outset in the firm’s defense against a lighting technician’s emotional distress claims, which are part of a lawsuit stemming from the 2021 accidental death of the “Rust” film’s cinematographer.
In court papers filed Thursday with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maurice A. Leiter, attorney Arthur J. Chapman of the Segal, McCambridge, Singer & Mahoney Ltd. firm is taking over for lawyer Robert M. Schwartz of the firm of Quinn, Emmanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in the representation of El Dorado Pictures Inc. No reason was given for the switch..
Lighting technician and plaintiff Serge Svetnoy alleges in his complaint filed in November 2021 that he suffered emotional distress stemming from the accidental fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins from a bullet fired by Baldwin with a prop gun in New Mexico in 2021. The Hutchins family’s separate suit against Baldwin is awaiting trial in New Mexico.
Svetnoy contends that the shooting on the film’s set “was caused by the negligent acts and omissions” of the multiple defendants in his suit. In a subsequent amended complaint, Svetnoy added causes of action for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Baldwin only.
Svetnoy was among the first “Rust” crew members to publicly speak out about the shooting that killed the 42-year-old Hutchins while Baldwin was helping to prepare camera angles on the film’s set near Santa Fe. The weapon, which was supposed to contain only blank rounds, discharged a lead bullet that struck Hutchins in the chest then lodged in the shoulder of director Joel Souza, now 52.
But the actor’s lawyers contend in their court papers that Baldwin was not negligent because he was not responsible for safety, particularly as to prop guns, on the “Rust” set. The same lawyers further state that there also is no evidence of intentional acts to support Svetnoy’s claims for assault or emotional distress.
In July 2024, a New Mexico judge dismissed the criminal case against Baldwin, now 67, in mid-trial on grounds that the prosecution had suppressed evidence.