Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is accused of disregarding a man involved in a 2016 ski accident with her, which left him with severe injuries, his lawyer told a Utah jury Tuesday.
Paltrow appeared at the Park City court Tuesday morning after the skier, identified as Dr. Terry Sanderson, sued her following a “hit and run” ski crash behind the Deer Valley resort. Sanderson, according to Fox News Digital, is suing Paltrow for $300,000.
Sanderson’s lawyers accuse Paltrow of fleeing the scene while on her skis and not offering assistance, which left the doctor with “permanent traumatic brain injury, 4 broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life,” court documents state.
“Distracted skiers cause crashes. Defendant Gwyneth Paltrow knew that looking up the mountain and to the side, while skiing down the mountain, was dangerous,” Sanderson’s attorney, Lawrence D. Buhler, said during opening statements. “And she knew that skiing that way … was reckless.”
A complaint filed in 2019 accused Paltrow of leaving “Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured,” while a Deer Valley ski instructor also allegedly skied away after witnessing the crash.
Paltrow countersued Sanderson and claimed he was the one who crashed into her. She’s suing for the cost of legal fees and $1 in damages.
Her attorneys told the court Tuesday that she sustained a “full body blow” after Sanderson crashed into her, calling the defense’s story “BS,” AP reports.
Paltrow’s attorney, Steve Owen, said people who were skiing with the actress stopped to check on Sanderson, who assured the group that he was fine. Sanderson reportedly did not deny the accusation but claimed he couldn’t remember what he said.
“His memories of the case get better over the years. That’s all I’m gonna say. That’s not how memory works,” Owens replied.
Paltrow’s attorneys said Sanderson overstated his injuries in an attempt to get a come-up while exploiting the Oscar Award-winning star’s wealth and fame.
“He demanded Ms. Paltrow pay him millions. If she did not pay, she would face negative publicity resulting from his allegations,” the 2019 complaint read.
Sanderson later amended the complaint. He was initially seeking $1.3 million in damages before reducing it to $300,000 for negligence.
The trial is expected to last around a week. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Actor Gwyneth Paltrow looks on before leaving the courtroom, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Park City, Utah, where she is accused in a lawsuit of crashing into a skier during a 2016 family ski vacation, leaving him with brain damage and four broken ribs. Terry Sanderson claims that the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer was cruising down the slopes so recklessly that they violently collided, leaving him on the ground as she and her entourage continued their descent down Deer Valley Resort, a skiers-only mountain known for its groomed runs, après-ski champagne yurts and posh clientele. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool]
