The Alec Baldwin Rust lawsuit settlement has been finalized, closing a chapter for three crew members who sued over the deadly 2021 shooting on the film’s set in New Mexico. The agreement was confirmed in court documents on June 27, 2025, resolving their claims against Baldwin and his fellow producers.
This civil lawsuit was one of multiple actions initiated after Alec Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the aftermath of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’s fatal shooting. The plaintiffs—Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin, and Reese Price—alleged gross negligence and emotional trauma, saying that the production ignored critical safety protocols. Although the specifics of the settlement have not been made public, all three claimants stated they were close to the shooting scene.
Allegations of Negligence and Safety Violations on ‘Rust’ Set
The lawsuit, filed in March 2023, accused the film’s producers—including Alec Baldwin—of failing to uphold standard industry safety requirements. Based on court filings, the plaintiffs said the incident occurred inside a small church building on-set, where they stood beside Halyna Hutchins when the firearm was discharged.
“On October 21, 2021, Defendant Alexander R Baldwin III fired a Colt 45 revolver towards the crew on the set of the movie Rust, killing the film’s Director of Photography — Halyna Hutchins — and injuring Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin, and Reese Price.”
—Court filing
“These injuries were caused by Defendants’ failure to follow industry safety rules,”
—Court filing.
“Defendants cut corners; ignored reports of multiple, unscripted firearms discharges; and persisted, rushed, and understaffed, to finish the film.”
—Court filing
Plaintiffs contended that industry standards for firearm handling and set safety were disregarded, a claim the defendants, Baldwin and his co-producers, refuted in proceedings. While Baldwin and the Rust producers maintained they had acted responsibly, the crew members detailed a series of alarming shortcuts and repeated warnings that were allegedly ignored as filming pressed on under pressure to complete the movie.
Firsthand Accounts of the Moment Gun Fired on Set
The distress of that day is detailed in the legal filings, with graphic descriptions of the moments preceding and following the gun’s discharge. Plaintiffs described how Alec Baldwin cocked the revolver’s hammer with the trigger pulled, directing the firearm at the crew in a “third draw” that proved fatal.
“On his third draw, Defendant Baldwin cocked the hammer of the revolver with the trigger pulled and fired it towards the crew striking Hutchins, and injuring Plaintiffs.”
—Court filing
“[Price] saw the muzzle flash of the revolver in Defendant Baldwin’s hand. He felt the physical force of the gunfire in the small space. His ears began to ring. He felt as if everything was moving in slow motion. He saw Souza screaming and crawling away from Defendant Baldwin. Desperate and scared, crew members began to yank Plaintiff Price by the shirt and out of the church. Plaintiff Price realized the revolver had been fired towards him and his colleagues.”
—Court filing
Ross Addiego recounted experiencing the same chaos and trauma:
“He heard Souza’s muffled screams and began to navigate the chaos. He became aware that he had just witnessed Defendant Baldwin fire the revolver towards him and the group in which he was standing.”
—Court filing
Immediate Aftermath: Director and Cinematographer Down, Crew Takes Action
Following the gunfire, Director Joel Souza and Halyna Hutchins fell to the ground, both struck by the bullet. Addiego, one of the plaintiffs, described seeing damage to Souza’s clothing and quickly coming to his aid.
“[Addiego] saw a hole in the front of Souza’s sweatshirt. Assisted by another crew member and the set medic, Plaintiff Addiego removed Souza’s shirt and rolled him over. Souza’s scapula was shattered, and a bullet was lodged just beneath his skin. Plaintiff Addiego applied pressure to Souza’s wound until emergency medical professionals arrived.”
—Court filing
Doran Curtin shared her own harrowing experience:
“[Curtin] watched Hutchins fall to the ground right in front of her,”
—Court filing.
“With Hutchins at her feet, other crew members instructed Plaintiff Curtin to remove Hutchins’ headset. She bent down and removed the equipment from Hutchins’ head. She watched in shock as Hutchins grabbed at her abdomen.”
—Court filing
“Plaintiff Curtin put her hands on Hutchins’ stomach, trying to find the source of Hutchins’ pain and figure out what was going on,”
—Court filing.
“As the chaos continued, Plaintiff Curtin was ushered out of the church. Once outside, she collapsed from the effects of the blast and the shock of the shooting.”
—Court filing
Broader Significance of the Alec Baldwin Rust Lawsuit Settlement
The Alec Baldwin Rust lawsuit settlement marks another development in the lasting fallout from Halyna Hutchins’s tragic death and Joel Souza’s wounding during the movie’s production in New Mexico. As more lawsuits reach resolution, attention has sharpened on film industry safety practices, with calls for tighter regulations on the use of firearms on set.
This agreement comes as Baldwin continues to contend with criminal charges and remaining civil litigation. The testimonies of Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin, and Reese Price have underscored the traumatic impact on crewmembers directly exposed to the shooting and added urgency to national discussions about set safety and accountability in filmmaking. As these legal matters move forward, there may be industry-wide reforms and ongoing scrutiny of how film companies, including Rust’s producers, manage hazardous scenes and protect their employees.
