In a highly publicized trial, actress Gwyneth Paltrow was sued for $3 million over allegations she caused a 2016 crash on a Utah ski slope leaving a man with physical and brain injuries. Who skied into whom? The verdict is in…
Gwyneth Paltrow sued and blamed for 2016 skiing accident
A case filed in 2019 against actress Gwyneth Paltrow over a 2016 skiing accident that occurred at Deer Valley, one of Utah’s and the nation’s most upscale ski resorts, finally went to court in Park City last week.
The plaintiff, Terry Sanderson, a 76-year-old retired optometrist, sued Paltrow, 50, for negligence in 2019 and is seeking $3 million in damages. Paltrow countersued for negligence and is seeking $1, Yahoo News reported.
During the trial, attorneys for the plaintiff and defendant both described their clients as victims, blaming the other for causing the collision, the Associated Press reported.
According to court filings obtained by CNN in 2019, Sanderson claims that Paltrow allegedly “skied out of control … knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, and four broken ribs and other serious injuries.”
Verdict delivered in Gwyneth Paltrow’s skiing accident case: Did she crash into him or did he crash into her?
After nearly 2 weeks of testimony, the trial came to a conclusion on Thursday with the jury delivering a unanimous decision.
After less than three hours of deliberations, the jury found that Paltrow was not at fault and, instead, Sanderson was at 100 percent fault and had caused the actress harm, People reported. The jury awarded her $1.
Sanderson’s attorneys had argued that Paltrow was skiing recklessly down the mountain when she careened into him with a velocity that sent him “flying” through the air, NPR reported. His attorneys claimed he suffered four broken ribs and lifelong brain damage as a result of the accident.
During the trial, Steve Owens, attorney for Gwyneth Paltrow, cautioned jurors against allowing sympathy for Sanderson’s medical ailments to skew their judgment, while questioning the elderly man’s credibility.
Owens pointed out that members of Paltrow’s group checked on Sanderson, who assured them he was fine – something Sanderson confirmed after the crash and didn’t deny. However, in court filings, he claimed he could not remember. Owens pointed out that Sanderson had a history of documented brain injuries prior to the collision.
Paltrow pleased with outcome, only sought $1 from plaintiff, integrity at stake
“I felt that acquiescing to a false claim compromised my integrity,” Paltrow said in a statement following the trial. “I am pleased with the outcome and I appreciate all of the hard work of Judge Holmberg and the jury, and thank them for their thoughtfulness in handling this case.”
“We are pleased with this unanimous outcome and appreciate the judge and jury’s thoughtful handling of the case,” Paltrow’s attorney Owens said after the trial. “Gwyneth has a history of advocating for what she believes in — this situation was no different and she will continue to stand up for what is right.”
