NEWS'Rust' Medic Files Lawsuit Alleging She Cannot Return To Work After Suffering 'Tremendous Shock, Trauma, And Severe Emotional Distress'
The Rust lawsuits are still mounting.
As reported by OK!, the film's director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, was killed and director Joel Souza was injured in October after a gun Alec Baldwin was holding was accidentally discharged on the New Mexico set. The actor has since maintained he didn't pull the trigger and believed the weapon was empty, as he was told it was a "Cold Gun," meaning it contained no live rounds of ammunition.
In the wake of the tragedy, several lawsuits have been filed against producers.
Most recently, medic Cheryln Schaefer filed a lawsuit last week against the film's producers and several crew members, per Fox News. She alleged she can no longer work in the aftermath of the shooting.
"Cherlyn Schaefer has suffered tremendous shock, trauma, and severe emotional distress as a result of the actions and inaction of all Defendants," the suit reportedly read. The documents claimed the trauma and emotional distress Shaefer suffered has impacted all aspects of her life.
In addition to "emotional trauma and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life," Schaefer reportedly lost earnings and now has to deal with "mental health medical expenses," as she receives treatment from "therapists and others," according to the suit.
Rust Movie Productions, LLC, Bonanza Creek Ranch, assistant director Dave Halls, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, firearm supplier Seth Kenney and property master Sarah Zachry have all been named in the suit. Baldwin was not named in the lawsuit, it was reported.
The suit also accused Shannon Hughes, who is a representative for Bonanza Creek Ranch, of not enforcing the rules on the ranch property, given that explosives and personal firearms are said to be banned, the outlet noted.
- Alec Baldwin Posts 'Everything Is Going To Be Alright' On Instagram After Halyna Hutchins' Family Sues Actor For Wrongful Death
- 'Rust' Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's Attorney Addresses 'Some Untruths,' States The 'Set Would Never Have Been Compromised If Live Ammo Were Not Introduced'
- New Search Warrant Details Potential Source Of Live Ammunition In 'Rust' Shooting
"Gutierrez Reed loaded the revolver with the round containing the bullet that killed [cinematographer] Halyna Hutchins," the suit read, per the outlet. The medic also alleged Zachry helped Gutierrez Reed handle the firearm before the incident occurred.
According to Schaefer, Guitierrez Reed's father, Thell Reed, previously worked with firearm supplier Kenney on another film. The rookie armorer's dad is said to have provided Kenney with "reloaded rounds" or "live rounds that are created using empty casings" at the time. He requested the rounds be returned, but Kenney kept them, per the outlet.
"Prior to the rehearsal where Halyna Hutchins was shot, Hannah Gutierrez Reed loaded the revolver with dummy rounds and at least one round of live ammunition," the suit read. The documents claimed Guiterrez Reed knew or should have known how to distinguish a live round from a dummy round, it was reported.
"Prior to the shooting, Sarah Zachry and Hannah mixed rounds of ammunition from different boxes together and transported the mixed ammunition loose in fanny packs," the suit alleged.
According to TMZ, Schaefer claimed to have been the first one to attend to Hutchins after the shooting.
Zachry's lawyer, William Waggoner, told the publication his client did nothing wrong. He noted that Zachry did not load the gun in question nor handle it on the day of the tragic incident.
