SANTA FE, N.M. — The conclusion of a criminal case against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer clears the way for a related civil lawsuit by relatives of the deceased woman and efforts to depose the actor under oath, attorneys for plaintiffs in the civil suit said Tuesday.

At a news conference in Los Angeles, victims’ rights attorney Gloria Allred said that the parents and younger sister of deceased cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were disappointed that prosecutors won't appeal the dismissal of an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin. The criminal charge against Baldwin was dismissed halfway through trial in July on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.

Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during a rehearsal in the movie “Rust” in October 2021 at a film-set ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Baldwin, the lead actor and coproducer, was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when it discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.

Allred said Hutchins' relatives are determined to pursue damages and compensation from Baldwin and “Rust” producers in New Mexico civil court, and want Baldwin to answer questions under oath in the proceedings. Hutchins' widower and son previously reached a separate legal settlement.

“With the withdrawal that was made public yesterday, we are now able to proceed with our civil case,” Allred said. “Clearly, the rights of Alec Baldwin were protected, but the due process rights of the victims — Halyna Hutchins and her parents and her sister — were violated.”

Allred said she's ready to prove that Hutchins had a close relationship with her parents and sister — a prerequisite for seeking civil damages.

In November court filings in the civil lawsuit, Baldwin denied allegations that he was negligent or at fault in the shooting of Hutchins and sought to suspend the case. Attorneys for Baldwin could not immediately be reached Tuesday.

Allred read a statement from Hutchins' sister, Svetlana Zemko, that said, “Mr. Baldwin must be held accountable.”

In April, a judge sentenced movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to the maximum of 1 1/2 years at a state penitentiary on an involuntary manslaughter conviction in Hutchins’ death.

Allred condemned New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez for declining to appeal the dismissal of the criminal charge against Baldwin, calling him “the Grinch who stole Christmas” at the Christmas Eve news conference.

Torrez spokesperson Lauren Rodriguez defended the decision in an email, citing “significant procedural irregularities” identified by the judge in the criminal case.

“Attorney General Torrez will not prolong the grief and anguish of Ms. Hutchins' family in the vain attempt to salvage the compromised criminal case against Mr. Baldwin,” Rodriguez said. “There are other victims’ families in Santa Fe County and across New Mexico who are awaiting justice, and our energy needs to be devoted to supporting those cases on appeal.”

———

Amber Heard says Blake Lively’s complaint against Justin Baldoni is all too familiar

Amber Heard stepped into the Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni fray Monday after learning the crisis control PR firm Baldoni had hired was the same one ex-husband Johnny Depp used during their 2022 defamation trial.

“Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on,’” she told NBC News. “I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s horrifying ... destructive.”

Heard was vilified online during the bitter trial between her and ex Johnny Depp, and there are some suspicions that Saudi bots could have played a role, according to CBC News. While there is no indication Baldoni’s firm employed such measures, The New York Times on Saturday reported on apparent attempts to discredit Lively after she complained during the shoot about Baldoni’s behavior.

Heard and Depp were embroiled in a bitter trial amid dueling defamation charges stemming from a 2018 Washington Post op-ed Heard penned saying she was a domestic abuse survivor. While she didn’t name Depp in the piece, he sued her for $50 million in damages. Depp denied all allegations made by Heard during their trial, including one of sexual assault.

After months of contentious testimony, a seven-member jury found unanimously that Heard had libeled her ex and awarded him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Heard was awarded $2 million in defamation damages for her countersuit. They settled the case in December of that year, with Heard paying $1 million to Depp. He later said he planned to donate the money to charity.

Lively alluded to the firm’s clientele history in the complaint she filed Friday with the California Civil Rights Department accusing her “It Ends With Us” director and co-star of sexual harassment followed by a smear campaign. Baldoni’s attorneys and spokespeople have vehemently denied her allegations, calling them “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.”

The day after Lively filed her complaint, Baldoni’s talent agency, William Morris Endeavor (WME) dropped him.

In addition, author Colleen Hoover, whose novel of the same name is the basis for the movie, came out in support of Lively, as did the star’s sister, Robyn Lively. Soon afterward her “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” costars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn shared a joint statement declaring they “stand in solidarity” with their friend of 20-plus years.

Since then, a slew of other Hollywood stars have cropped up in Lively’s corner, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Schumer and director Paul Feig.

———

Dan Abrams leaving nightly NewsNation show, announces final episode

NewsNation host Dan Abrams has announced he’s leaving his nightly 9 p.m. program.

The “Dan Abrams Live” host told viewers Thursday night that his last episode will air in early February, despite having signed a “multiyear deal” to stay on board in September 2023.

He said he’ll remain with the cable news outlet in a reduced capacity but can no longer keep up with the pace of hosting a nightly program. Among his other projects, he serves as the CEO of the websites Mediaite and Law & Crime, hosts a daily SiriusXM radio show and appears on ABC News as chief legal analyst.

“I’ve reached the point where it’s impossible to keep devoting the time needed for this show while also running and growing my other businesses,” he said.

A replacement for his time slot is expected to be announced early next year.

Abrams, 58, first made a national name for himself while covering the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial for Court TV. The New York City native and Columbia University grad has also worked with NBC News and MSNBC.

Despite his busy workload, Abrams confessed Thursday that leaving his daily television show won’t be easy.

“I will miss it,” he told viewers. “I know I will.”

From combined wire services