Hollywood is concerned with the death drama on the set of “Rust”. Alec Baldwin (63) accidentally shot camerawoman Halyna Hutchins († 42). As “TMZ” writes, their family is preparing most likely for a lawsuit for wrongful death. Now the news portal has learned that the insurance policy that covers the production is limited to six million dollars.
The portal has the insurance certificate from Front Row Insurance Brokers. It states that general liability insurance is capped at $ 1 million per incident – the minimum amount required for filming in New Mexico. To this end, additional insurance for five million dollars has been taken out. This comes into play if the damage exceeds the liability insurance. However, the approval for the film, which the production company submitted, only states the insured amount of one million dollars.
That can be asserted
What sounds like a lot of money might not be enough. Because Halyna Hatchins was a rising star with decades of merit in front of her. She was also a mother and wife, which enables her son and husband to seek redress for the loss of their affection. In addition, director Joel Souza (48) was also shot and wounded. He too would be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering. The total amount the insurance company would pay for Hutchins and Souza is capped at six million dollars.
Does the insurance company refuse to cover the costs?
However, the amount to be paid could be significantly higher. In the state of New Mexico, juries can award punitive damages for proven recklessness or willful misconduct, which could increase the total. In addition, insurance companies typically have clear requirements. If this is violated, the insurance companies can refuse cover. The details of the terms of the contract are not known. However, since it is a western film with shootings, there will probably be increased requirements for weapons and ammunition. If these have not been met, the insurance will not pay.
It is believed that Hutchins’ family will sue both individuals and the production company. Both would be independently responsible if a jury found liable. If the defendants do not have any significant assets, they are covered by insurance.
Arms master paid a severance payment in 2020
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed (24) could be hit particularly hard. As a weapons master, she was responsible for the props. For her it would be the second time in a short time that she was held responsible for an accident. As “TMZ” reports, Gutierrez-Reed’s insurance paid $ 50,000 to the parents of one of her friends so that she could not be sued. Her colleague Tyler Dyer died in a motorcycle accident in August 2020. But what does Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have to do with it?
She was at a party with Dyer and her brother Aaron Butcher. The two men then wanted to ride a motorcycle. Gutierrez-Reed gave her brother her motorcycle, even though she saw that they had both had four to five beers beforehand. She later admitted that to the police. Butcher was already on probation for drunk-driving and was only allowed to drive vehicles with a breathalyzer attached to the ignition. That was not the case with Gutierrez-Reed’s motorcycle. According to police, Dyer was traveling too fast when he turned and hit a wall with his motorcycle while Butcher tried to avoid him, wrecking Gutierrez-Reed’s motorcycle in the process. (bsn)