Gwyneth Paltrow Trial: Here’s What To Know

A retired optometry who accused Gwyneth Paltrow of causing permanent brain damage after colliding with him while skiing in Utah filed a lawsuit against the Oscar-winning artist and creator of the luxury lifestyle type Goop.

Terry Sanderson, 76, filed a lawsuit against Paltrow in 2019 with an initial demand for$ 3 million in damages. Since then, the sum has been reduced to$ 300,000. According to Sandyson, he was skiing on a novice deer at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, the resort town that hosts the Sundance Film Festival, on February 26, 2016.

Sanderson claims that the actress was skiing behind him on the slope and had turned to watch her children before, as his attorney said in court Tuesday, “she turns her head back down, she screams, then skis into the back of Terry Sanderson.” Sanderson’s attorney, Lawrence Buhler, said that after the collision, his client was left “facedown in the snow, unconscious,” according to The Washington Post. After the crash, Paltrow allegedly fled, leaving Sanderson “stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured,” according to his lawsuit. Paltrow didn’t call for help, he added.

Later, Sanderson visited an emergency room where he was given a injury and four broken bones. Craig Ramon, Sanderson’s mountain friend, testified at the that he that he witnessed Paltrow colliding with and overturning Sanderson.

Ramon testified,” I hear this cry, and again I see this skier just crash into Terry’s back.”

Sanderson’s lawyer, Buhler, claimed that Paltrow”” abuse, her choices, and her disregard for many people on the mountain all combined” was to blame for the incident and that it had caused his client long-term harm.

” Terry was an outgoing, charming, gregarious person before this crash ,” Buhler remarked at the trial. But since the fall, he has lost his charm.

Sanderson’s lawsuit claims he suffered a“permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement.”

Paltrow’s attorneys have argued that, while a collision did occur between the actress and Sanderson seven years ago, it was the retired optometrist who crashed into her. One of her attorneys, Stephen Owens, said at the trial that because Paltrow was struck so suddenly, she at first thought she was being assaulted.

She’s skiing and having fun, Owens remarked. ” Short, she notices the appearance of two ski between hers. A soldier then approaches from behind her.

Sanderson questioned,” Who ran into who?” shortly after the accident, according to Owens. and after she claimed that he had run into her, Paltrow apologized. Sanderson was checked on after the incident by members of her class, according to Pattrow’s defense team, who also reported that he was fine. He also said the same thing to a ski patrol member who had come to check on them. Paltrow, according to the actress’s attorneys, just skied immediately after Sanderson said he was fine and after ski patrol left, and the retired optometrist only asked for assistance after the former surgeon waved off skiing patrol.

Ramon’s account of the incident, according to Owens, is” a completely different, stupid story.” Sanderson, according to Owens, was wearing a helmet and goggles at the time, so she wasn’t actually aware that Paltrow was involved. But later, after learning who she was, he wrote an email to his daughters stating,” I’m recognized!”

Sanderson is aging, has prior issues, and is now largely obsessed with this complaint, according to Owens, who also argued that the crash isn’t the root of his health issues.

“I don’t want to seem like I’m beating up on a kindly old man,” Owens added, “but keep in mind we have to do this because they’ve said Gwyneth owes me $3 million.”

Paltrow has counterclaimed Sanderson, asking for a symbolical$ 1 in damages and legal fees. Sanderson’s complaint has been characterized by Paltrow as a” meritless case” and” an attempt to take advantage of her fame and wealth.”

Paltrow says in her countersuit that Deer Valley ski instructor Eric Christiansen witnessed the incident and bolstered her version of the story. In his lawsuit, Sanderson claims that Christiansen didn’t see what happened and filed a false police report supporting Paltrow’s claims.

The civil trial began Tuesday and is scheduled to last eight days, with Paltrow’s husband, Brad Falchuk, as well as her children, daughter Apple and son Moses, expected to testify.

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