The trial surrounding a 2016 skiing accident involving actress and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow commenced on Tuesday in Park City, Utah. Paltrow was present in the courtroom as a jury was selected and opening statements began. Terry Sanderson, a 76-year-old retired optometrist, has accused Paltrow of crashing into him while skiing on a Utah mountain in February 2016, causing him severe injuries.
According to court documents filed by Sanderson in 2019, Paltrow allegedly “skied out of control” at Deer Valley Resort, knocking Sanderson down, causing him to lose consciousness, and resulting in a brain injury, four broken ribs, and other serious injuries. Sanderson further claims that Paltrow and her ski instructor left the scene without providing him with medical assistance.
In response, Paltrow filed a countersuit against Sanderson, arguing that he was the one who skied into her. Paltrow’s countersuit describes how she “was enjoying skiing with her family on vacation in Utah, when [Sanderson] – who was uphill from Ms. Paltrow – plowed into her back.” The encounter left Paltrow “shaken and upset,” prompting her to quit skiing for the day.
Initially, Sanderson sued Gwyneth Paltrow for $3.1 million, but he later amended his complaint and is now seeking over $300,000 in damages. Paltrow, on the other hand, is seeking $1 in damages, along with attorneys’ fees.
During the trial’s opening day, the judge provided instructions to the eight-person jury, and the attorneys for both sides introduced themselves. Opening statements were given by Sanderson’s lawyer, Lawrence Buhler, followed by Paltrow’s attorney, Steve Owens. Owens reiterated Paltrow’s claim that she was downhill from Sanderson when the collision occurred.
The trial is expected to last approximately one week. Although it is unclear whether Gwyneth Paltrow will testify, her attorney informed the jury that they would hear from family members who were skiing with her at the time of the incident.