Lawyers for the family of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer killed by Alec Baldwin on the set of the movie “Rust” last year, filed a petition this week to appoint a representative for Hutchins’ estate who will look into his a wrongful death complaint should be filed.

Ms Hutchins was killed when the old-fashioned revolver Mr Baldwin was practicing with on the film set in New Mexico, which he had been told contained no live ammunition, fired a live round , touching her and the director of the film, Joel Souza. , who survived.

According to the motion, which was filed in New Mexico state court on Wednesday, attorneys for Ms Hutchins’ widower and son asked the court to appoint Kristina Martinez, a Santa Fe attorney, to represent the estate of the cinematographer “solely for the purpose of investigating and pursuing a lawsuit under the New Mexico wrongful death law. The court filing did not specify who would be named as a defendant if a lawsuit was brought.

Ms Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, and his 9-year-old son are both supporting the petition to appoint a representative for Ms Hutchins’ estate, the filing says.

Randi McGinn, an attorney representing the Hutchins, said the process for appointing a representative was specific to a New Mexico state law. Under the law, any money awarded in the lawsuit would be split between Mr Hutchins and his son, she said.

Ms Hutchins, 42, from Ukraine, was an up-and-coming filmmaker who friends described as talented, spirited and deeply committed to her work.

In the aftermath of the fatal October 21 shooting, several members of the film’s crew filed lawsuits against Mr Baldwin and others associated with the production. Mr Baldwin, who starred in the western and was also a producer, claimed in a TV interview that he was not responsible for the fatal shooting and said he had not pulled the trigger, suggesting that the weapon could have exploded. after removing the hammer. His lawyers on Monday filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought against him by the film’s screenwriter, Mamie Mitchell.

New Mexico officials are still examining how a live ammunition landed on set and then in the weapon Mr. Baldwin was training with and whether anyone should be held criminally responsible.