David Thomas

(Reuters) – Matt Hutchins’ wife Halyna was shot by Alec Baldwin last month on set of “Rust,” a spokeswoman for the firm said.

Brian Panish, of Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi personal injury firm, was the lead attorney. He helped to secure a settlement of $2.2 billion for Southern California victims of wildfires, mudslides earlier in the year, according to Amanda Duckworth, Hutchins spokesperson.

Panish represented Michael Jackson’s children and mother in a wrongful Death lawsuit.

Panish did not respond to our request for comment. Legal experts have said https://www.reuters.com/world/us/who-faces-legal-liability-rust-shooting-case-2021-10-28 Halyna Hutchins’ family could file civil lawsuits seeking financial damages for negligence after a gun Baldwin was holding released a live bullet. Baldwin had been assured that the gun was safe for use.

Hutchins has been photographed https://www.reuters.com/world/us/alec-baldwin-seen-consoling-family-slain-cinematographer-set-problems-mount-2021-10-24 embracing and talking with Baldwin in the days after the shooting.

Hutchins, a corporate associate https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/alec-baldwin-shooting-victim-was-wife-latham-watkins-lawyer-2021-10-22 at U.S. law firm Latham & Watkins, is the latest to hire legal counsel in the wake of the Oct. 21 shooting that also injured director Joel Souza.

Last week, Baldwin and other “Rust” producers hired https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/producers-alec-baldwin-film-hire-law-firm-shooting-probe-2021-10-27 law firm Jenner & Block to investigate the shooting. “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez has retained https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/attorney-rust-armorer-suggests-sabotage-baldwin-set-2021-11-03 Jason Bowles, a former federal prosecutor based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Baldwin was also the producer of the film and he has stated that he is devastated but is willing to cooperate with authorities.