Reports Stack News and Updates
Gwyneth Paltrow acquitted in ski crash trial, awarded $1 in damages. On March 30, Thursday, the jury concluded that Terry Sanderson was entirely responsible for the skiing collision with Gwyneth Paltrow that occurred in 2016 at Deer Valley, Utah, finding him 100% at fault.
I believe that yielding to a false accusation would have compromised my integrity,” stated the actress from “Shallow Hal,” after winning the trial. “I am satisfied with the verdict and grateful for Judge Holmberg and the jury’s diligent work, and I thank them for their considerate management of this matter.
After leaving the courtroom, Paltrow addressed Sanderson, who is 76 years old, and wished him well. Her lawyer, Steve Owens, also expressed satisfaction with the verdict and commended Paltrow for standing up for her beliefs. “Gwyneth has always been an advocate for what she believes in, and this case was no different. She will continue to fight for what is just and right,” Owens stated in a press release.
In January 2019, the retired doctor filed a lawsuit against the founder of Goop, three years after the skiing accident in Deer Valley, Utah, where he claimed that Paltrow caused him severe injuries. Initially, Sanderson sought $3.1 million in damages, but later reduced the amount to $300,000.
Sanderson accused the Shakespeare in Love star of leaving the scene after the skiing accident, but Paltrow denied the allegations. She testified that she and her ski instructor stayed at the scene and provided assistance to Sanderson. Paltrow added that they left only when they felt the doctor’s injuries were not serious.
After eight days, the trial commenced on March 21 at the Park City District Court, with both Sanderson and Paltrow taking the stand and being accompanied by various witnesses and medical professionals. During her testimony, Paltrow stuck to her innocence and shared her viewpoint on the incident. She stated that she initially believed the collision to be a possible sexual assault due to the force of the crash.
As she testified during the eight-day trial at the Park City District Court, Paltrow narrated the details of the incident, maintaining her innocence. She recounted how two skis came between hers, forcing her legs apart, and then there was a body pressing against her. Paltrow also mentioned a strange grunting noise, which made her initially think that the collision might be a potential sexual assault. She said her mind was going very quickly, and she was trying to figure out what was happening.
Sanderson, on his part, testified after the actress and narrated his version of the incident. While giving his testimony, he recreated the “blood curdling scream” that the Glee starlet had let out during the accident. “And then boom! It was like somebody was out of control and was going to hit a tree and was going to die,” Sanderson said, mimicking a low-pitch scream. “And that’s what I had until I was hit.”
During the trial, the optometrist’s claims prompted Paltrow to appear to laugh and shake her head in response. Additionally, the jury heard statements from Paltrow’s children, 18-year-old Apple and 16-year-old Moses, whom she shares with her ex-husband Chris Martin. Their statements were read by Paltrow’s lawyer since the teenagers could not appear in person due to time constraints.
According to court documents that were obtained by Us Weekly in January 2019, Sanderson’s legal team alleged that while skiing, the Oscar-winning actress lost control and crashed into the back of Terry Sanderson, who was skiing downhill. The impact reportedly caused him to fall hard, suffer a brain injury, four broken ribs, and other serious injuries. The documents further claimed that after the collision, Paltrow got up, turned, and skied away, leaving Sanderson lying in the snow, seriously injured and stunned.
Paltrow denied the allegations against her and told us in a statement at the time that the lawsuit was baseless and they anticipated being proven innocent. In February 2019, one month after Sanderson filed the lawsuit, Paltrow decided to countersue the former optometrist. The actress sought a jury trial and sued Sanderson for $1 in damages as well as reimbursement for her legal fees “to defend this meritless claim.” Additionally, Paltrow’s legal team claimed that Sanderson was the one who struck her.
