Gwyneth Paltrow arrives at Utah court to take the stand
Gwyneth Paltrow arrives at Utah court to take the stand in $300,000 civil lawsuit over 2016 ‘hit-and-run’ ski crash that left optometrist with brain injury and four broken ribs
- Gwyneth Paltrow is set to take the stand in a civil case over a 2016 ski accident in which a retired Utah optometrist claims he was left with permanent injuries
- Terry Sanderson, 76, sought damages in excess of $3.1 million but a judge dismissed his original claim of hit-and-run
- Paltrow has countersued and seeks ‘symbolic damages’ of $1 plus her legal fees
Gwyneth Paltrow has arrived at court in Utah to take the stand in a trial over a 2016 ‘hit-and-run’ ski accident.
The actress, 50, was seen stepping out of a black SUV and bundled up in a long coat and shades, keeping her head down as she walked into Park City District Court on Tuesday.
Dr. Terry Sanderson, 76, who was seen entering court today with a face mask on, sued the Oscar-winning actress in January 2019 and alleged she crashed into the back of him and abandoned the scene at the exclusive Deer Valley resort in February 2016.
Paltrow has insisted that it was Sanderson who skied into her and that he was the uphill skier in the crash.
Gwyneth Paltrow has arrived at court in Utah to take the stand in a trial over a 2016 ‘hit-and-run’ ski accident
The actress was seen stepping out of a black SUV and bundled up in a long coat and shades, keeping her head down as she walked into Park City District Court on Tuesday
Dr. Terry Sanderson, who was seen entering court today with a face mask on, sought damages in excess of $3.1 million after the accident left him with a ‘permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement’
The retired optometrist sought damages in excess of $3.1 million after the accident left him with a ‘permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement’.
A judge dismissed Sanderson’s original claim of hit-and-run and the Utah Resort and Paltrow’s instructor were removed from the lawsuit and it is now a $300,000 claim solely against the actress.
Paltrow is countersuing for ‘symbolic damages’ of $1 plus her legal fees.
She accused Sanderson of trying to ‘exploit her celebrity and wealth’ with the accident in which she sustained a full-body blow when he collided with her.
Paltrow told Sanderson she was angry with him and he apologized to her but she was left ‘shaken and upset’ by the incident and stopped skiing that day, the lawsuit states.
‘I heard this hysterical scream and instantaneous I got hit in the back,’ Sanderson said at a press conference when he originally filed the lawsuit in 2019.
‘It was just instantaneous, I got hit in my back. It felt like it had just drove me forward.’
In his original lawsuit, he accused her of getting up and skiing away without checking on him or offering assistance following the crash.
Paltrow in a social media post the year before the accident at Deer Valley resort in Utah. She captioned the post: ’20 years later and I still got it #justlikeridingabike’
Terry Sanderson (pictured) filed a lawsuit in January 2019 in Utah claiming that Gwyneth Paltrow broke four of his ribs and left him with brain damage after a ski crash
The trial over the incident at Deer Valley Resort begins today at Park City District Court
Sanderson claimed that her instructor, identified as Eric Christiansen, soon came over and informed the injured man that the incident was his fault and then also skied off.
He says in the complaint that neither Paltrow nor the instructor alerted ski patrol after abandoning him, and he was left stranded and alone with brain damage and four broken ribs on the side of the mountain.
‘This case involves a hit-and-run ski crash at Deer Valley, Utah, where Defendant Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit the back of Terry Sanderson, another skier, who was downhill, knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries,’ stated the legal filing.
‘Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured.’
That is when a ski instructor came over and derided Sanderson claims the filing, despite the fact that he did not see the crash.
‘He also failed to send help, as he was obligated to do, and later filed a false report to protect his client, Ms. Paltrow,’ states the filing.
‘Neither Ms. Paltrow nor Deer Valley lodge personnel notified emergency responders about the injured Dr. Sanderson. They left him at the scene with serious brain injuries caused by Ms. Paltrow.’
Paltrow, who was snapped one day after the accident having dinner in Park City, is seeking ‘symbolic damages’ of $1 plus her legal fees in her countersuit, filed in February 2019
He sought damages in excess of $3.1 million after the accident but a judge dismissed his original claim of hit-and-run and it is now a $300,000 claim against Paltrow
A sign directing skiers to the Bandana trail where the incident happened
View from the top: Paltrow was skiing down the Bandana trail (above) with friends and family
But Paltrow alleged that Sanderson said he was okay when Christiansen checked on him and stated that the instructor prepared a report which determined that Sanderson was at fault for the incident.
Her counterclaim insists that the retired doctor’s injuries were overstated and an examination with a doctor did not show any deficits in cognitive functioning.
Medical records at the time reveal a diagnosis of a ‘mild’ concussion, according to the lawsuit and that he vacationed internationally for ‘extended periods of time’ after the accident.
And Sanderson has 15 other chronic medical issues and a year earlier told his doctor he was blind in his right eye and the vision in his left eye was decreasing, according to the documents.
‘She did not knock him down,’ the counterclaim states, ‘or cause him to suffer a concussion, brain injury, or broken ribs.’
Paltrow was skiing down the resort’s Bandana beginner run with the guidance of a ski instructor at the time of the incident.
She was allegedly rushing down the mountain to grab lunch at the Montage Lodge at Deer Valley according to Sanderson’s complaint.
Deer Valley adheres to the National Ski Areas Association responsibility code which states that skiers going downhill have right of way but that everyone must stay in control and be able to stop and avoid others.
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