Advertisement

Gwyneth Paltrow trial – live: Ski crash witness says star ‘bolted’ as Apple, Moses and Brad Falchuk to testify

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow has been accused of fleeing the scene of a ski collision after allegedly plowing into a retired doctor who sustained severe injuries.

Paltrow claims she was hit from behind by another skier suffering minor injuries, whereas Terry Sanderson, 76, a retired optometrist, claims that it was Paltrow who slammed into him in a “full body hit” as she skied the slopes of Park City, Utah.

He says the movie star and Goop CEO crashed into him with such force that he was left with “permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement,” according to Law & Crime.

The trial will decide who’s responsible for the damages which began at $3.1m but were since lowered to a $300,000 claim against Paltrow. She is seeking a single dollar in damages and for her legal fees to be covered.

Witness Craig Ramon testified on Tuesday that Ms Paltrow left “three to four” minutes after the collision and did not offer to help Mr Sanderson, who was reportedly face down in the snow and unconscious.

Key Points

  • Oscar-winning actor Gwyneth Paltrow faces civil suit after 2016 ski crash

  • Retired optometrist Terry Sanderson and Paltrow have very different versions of events

  • Sanderson suffered ‘permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs ... emotional distress’

  • Trial will decide damages

  • Opening statements to begin today

  • Paltrow expected to testify in case

Retired optometrist Terry Sanderson suffered injuries including ‘permanent traumatic brain injury’ and ‘four broken ribs’

07:00 , Andrea Blanco

Mr Sanderson, 76, says the movie star and Goop CEO was the one who crashed into him, and with such force that he was left with “permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement,” according to Law & Crime.

Mr Sanderson was 69 at the time of the incident.

The two of them are now heading to trial to decide who’s responsible to pay damages, with proceedings scheduled to start on 21 March

Defence alleges incident was caught in GoPro but evidence was not handed in

06:00 , Andrea Blanco

The defence argued during opening arguments on Tuesday that Mr Sanderson sent a link to his daughter on the day of the accident.

“Dad, I cannot how unlucky and how crazy this all is ... I’m so glad you’re okay,” his daughter said.

Mr Sanderson’s attorneys have not addressed the alleged recording of the incident.

Defence seeks to downplay retired optometrist’s claims of severe injuries

05:00 , Andrea Blanco

The defence instructed the jury “not to feel sorry for” Mr Sanderson.

In an attempt to undermine the plaintiff’s claim, attorneys for Gwyneth Paltrow alleged that Mr Sanderson travelled to more than ten countries since the 2016 ski accident.

The defence argued Terry Sanderson was exaggerating the degree of his injuries, adding that the purported brain damage he sustained was actually the result of ageing and pre-existing brain damage.

Gwyneth Paltrow claims retired optometrist slammed into her

04:00 , Andrea Blanco

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow’s day on the slopes in Park City, Utah was cut short seven years ago when she had to take some time to rest after she collided with another person coming down the hill.

As she was climbing the hill on 26 February 2016, another skier slammed into her from behind. She suffered minor injuries, for which she says the man apologized immediately.

According to her, Terry Sanderson, 76, a retired optometrist, said he couldn’t clearly remember what had happened after the “full body hit”. But to Ms Paltrow, the incident is as clear as day.

His version of events is rather different.

Judge scolds journalist for taking photos of Gwyneth Paltrow in ski collision trial courtroom

03:00 , Andrea Blanco

Ms Paltrow’s attorneys complained that a photographer took pictures of her in the courtroom’s foyer.

The Independent reports:

Journalist scolded for taking photos of Gwyneth Paltrow in ski crash trial courtroom

Who is plaintiff Terry Sanderson?

02:00 , Andrea Blanco

A 76-year-old retired optometrist is suing actor-turned-lifestyle influencer Gwyneth Paltrow after he claims she struck him in a “hit-and-run ski crash” seven years ago.

The incident took place on the slopes of Flagstaff Mountain, part of the Deer Valley Resort near Park City, Utah, on 26 February 2016 when Paltrow and Dr Terry Sanderson collided on a beginner’s course known as the Bandana Run.

Mr Sanderson subsequently filed for damages in January 2019 and is seeking $300,000 in compensation for the injuries he sustained, prompting Paltrow to file a countersuit in which she asks for a symbolic $1 should she win and for her legal expenses to be covered.

Mr Sanderson insists that the movie star smashed into him on the slopes after racing downhill in an “out-of-control” manner, according to Court TV.

She struck him in the back with such force, he alleges, that he was left with “permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement”.

In his complaint, the plaintiff argues that Paltrow “got up, turned and skied away”, leaving him “stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured” without summoning help.

Who is Terry Sanderson? The man suing Gwyneth Paltrow over a skiing accident

Tess Holliday calls out Gwyneth Paltrow’s diet video: ‘Everyone’s too afraid to be fat’

01:00 , Andrea Blanco

A trial over a 2016 ski accident is not the only controversy the Goop mogul is facing.

The Independent’s Kate Ng reports:

Tess Holliday calls out Gwyneth Paltrow’s bone broth and vegetables diet

Gwyneth Paltrow leaves court after first day of ski crash trial

00:17 , Graeme Massie

 (AP)
(AP)
 (AP)
(AP)

Gwyneth Paltrow’s husband Brad Falchuk and Kids, Apple and Moses, to testify

00:06 , Graeme Massie

The court was told by the actor’s lawyer Stephen Owens that the trip she took to Deer Valley “was a sentimental issue” for Paltrow following the death of her father in 2002.

“So it was a sentimental issue because she had started getting back into skiing and she did it because she wanted her kids to learn like she had,” Mr Owens said in his opening argument.

 (AP)
(AP)

He told the court that Ms Paltrow’s now-husband Mr Falchuk, 52, was also present in Utah on the day of the accident.

 (AP)
(AP)

“And [Falchuk] has kids the exact same age as Gwyneth’s daughter and son,” Mr wens told the court. “And this was really their first trip to sort of a have a mixed, see-if-this-might-work. So it was a special time and it was a lovely day.”

 (AP)
(AP)

Mr Owens described the 26 February 2016 skiing group as “she, Brad, now her husband who you’re going to hear from, her daughter Apple, who you’re going to hear from, Moses, who you’re gonna hear from.”

Jury excused for the day

Tuesday 21 March 2023 23:05 , Graeme Massie

The jury has been sent home for the day and will return to court on Wednesday morning.

Mr Sanderson’s ex-girlfriend testifies in court

Tuesday 21 March 2023 23:00 , Graeme Massie

Karlene Davidson dated plaintiff Terry Sanderson for about 18 months prior to the ski accident. She told the court that “he seemed to cry easily” after the accident.

“He would get frustrated and tear up,” she told the jury.

She said after the accident he “was pushing me away” and that she felt he was trying to get her to “move on with” her life.

“He withdrew, he didn’t engage any more, even with emails when I was gone,” she said. “It wasn’t there any more.”

“He was not the same man,” she told the court as she said she worked “very hard” to save their relationship.

“Now looking back and seeing it was a brain injury I would say so now,” she said when asked if the ski accident brought an end to their relationship.

Under cross-examination, she said she would not dispute any records that showed Mr Sanderson had previous medical conditions such as depression.

 (Law & Crime)
(Law & Crime)

She said “he lost consciousness” during the accident and had not been able to tell her what happened. But afterwards, he complained about a rib injury.

Court takes recess

Tuesday 21 March 2023 21:46 , Andrea Blanco

Jury will reconvene before the first day of trial is wrapped up at 7pm EST.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s attorney pokes holes in witness testimony

Tuesday 21 March 2023 21:12 , Andrea Blanco

The defence is questioning Mr Ramon on the exact position of the individuals involved in the collision.

Mr Ramon said that he came to a stop 40 feet above Mr Sanderson. He then skied down to where the retired optometrist was.

 (CourtTV)
(CourtTV)

Defence seeks to undermine colourblind witness testimony

Tuesday 21 March 2023 20:49 , Andrea Blanco

During cross-examination by the defence, witness Craig Ramon testified he was colourblind.

Mr Ramon had previously testified that he saw Ms Paltrow land on top of Mr Sanderson before bouncing off down the mountain slope.

Defence attorneys questioned Mr Ramon on the accuracy of his perception, noting his colourblindness.

Court reconvenes

Tuesday 21 March 2023 20:23 , Andrea Blanco

The defence will now cross-examine witness Craig Ramon.

Witness says retired optometrist was ‘scared’ after he regained consciousness

Tuesday 21 March 2023 20:11 , Andrea Blanco

In his testimony on Tuesday, Craig Ramon said he was concerned about Terry Sanderson’s well-being after he and Gwyneth Paltrow crashed into each other while skiing.

“He was complaining about his ribs,” Mr Ramon said.

Mr Ramon, who was skiing with a group of people and Mr Sanderson on the day of the accident, said that Mr Sanderson was disoriented and in pain after he regained consciousness.

Mr Ramon helped get him assistance and was with him at an InstaCare station before Mr Sanderson was referred to an emergency room.

By the time Mr Ramon left, an hour and a half after the accident, he says Mr Sanderson was still not coherent.

Gwyneth Paltrow ‘got up pretty quick’ after skiing collision

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:41 , Andrea Blanco

Craig Ramon, who witnessed the accident between Ms Paltrow and Mr Sanderson, testified that Mr Sanderson did not move after the collision and remained unconscious for a few minutes.

Mr Ramon says Ms Paltrow’s ski instructor Eric Christiansen then arrived at the exact spot where the accident took place.

“Then he starts yelling at Terry, ‘What do you do?’” Mr Ramon testified. “And Terry was not moving. And it was getting louder and louder.”

“I got to the point that I was concerned about Terry, who was not moving, so I just moved a few feet in front of [Christiansen] and then he stopped yelling.”

Mr Ramon said Ms Paltrow “got up very quickly” and “went straight down.” He claims she did not ask if Mr Sanderson was okay.

Skier recounts seeing Gwyneth Paltrow ‘slamming’ into Terry Sanderson

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:30 , Andrea Blanco

Testifying for the plaintiff, Craig Ramon said: “We were skiing down the run and I heard this scream and Iooked over, and then I see this skier just slam into the back of Terry,” Mr Ramon said. “Very hard, very hard.”

“He falls face down and Gwyneth is on top of him and then bounces off around, slides to the right five or ten feet.”

First witness takes the stand

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:21 , Andrea Blanco

Craig Ramon, who witnessed the collision between Ms Paltrow and Mr Sanderson, told the jury that Mr Sanderson was an advanced-to-expert skier.

Mr Ramon claimed he was right behind Mr Sanderson when the accident unfolded. He also testified that during six ski trips with Mr Sanderson, he only saw him trip when he and Ms Paltrow crashed into each other.

“He was not the same skier as he was the previous year,” Mr Sanderson said about a trip the year following the accident.

Jury reconvenes

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:07 , Andrea Blanco

Following a lunch recess, witness Craig Ramon takes the stand.

Gwyneth Paltrow hides her face behind blue notebook

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:06 , Andrea Blanco

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow exits a 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 (AP)
Actor Gwyneth Paltrow exits a 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 (AP)
 (AP)
(AP)
 (AP)
(AP)
Terry Sanderson is suing Gwyneth Paltrow for $300,000 (AP)
Terry Sanderson is suing Gwyneth Paltrow for $300,000 (AP)

Paltrow sparks backlash after sharing ‘detox’ salad recipe

Tuesday 21 March 2023 18:43 , Andrea Blanco

Gwyneth Paltrow has most recently been in the news regarding various “wellness” and “detox” diet regimes that have been criticised by dieticians.

Chelsea Ritschel filed this report in January:

Gwyneth Paltrow sparks backlash after sharing ‘detox’ salad recipe

‘Hysterical screaming like … King Kong in the jungle’

Tuesday 21 March 2023 18:18 , Andrea Blanco

Mr Sanderson alleges that Ms Paltrow was coming down the beginner slope of Bandana Run on Flagstaff mountain in an “out-of-control” manner, according to Court TV.

He claims that she struck him so hard that he was knocked out. At a press conference in 2019, he said that moments before the collision, he “heard this just hysterical screaming like … King Kong in the jungle or something”.

He said at the time that he thought the speed at which Ms Paltrow was allegedly coming at him could explain the extent of his injuries. “A little bitty bullet can make a big hole,” he said, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

Court goes on recess for lunch

Tuesday 21 March 2023 18:03 , Andrea Blanco

Court will reconvene at 3pm EST.

Defence says Terry Sanderson travelled the world after ‘permanent’ brain injury

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:59 , Andrea Blanco

The defence instructed the jury “not to feel sorry for” Mr Sanderson. In an attempt to undermine the plaintiff’s claim, attorneys for Gwyneth Paltrow alleged that Mr Sanderson travelled to more than ten countries since the 2016 ski accident.

Defence alleges incident was caught in GoPro but evidence was not handed in

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:47 , Andrea Blanco

The defence argued during opening arguments that Mr Sanderson sent a link to his daughter on the day of the accident.

“Dad, I cannot how unlucky and how crazy this all is ... I’m so glad you’re okay,” his daughter said.

Ski victim texted ‘I’m famous’ moments after Gwyneth Paltrow collision

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:38 , Andrea Blanco

Eight hours after the accident that he claims left him with permanent brain damage, Mr Sanderson texted his daughter: “I’m famous.”

Defence downplays claims of severe injuries

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:35 , Andrea Blanco

Ms Paltrow’s attorneys argued Terry Sanderson was exaggerating the degree of his injuries, adding that the purported brain damage he sustained was actually the result of ageing and pre-existing problems

Gwyneth Paltrow appears in court to stand trial over 2016 ski accident

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:32 , Andrea Blanco

 (BACKGRID)
(BACKGRID)

Gwyneth Paltrow’s children and husband to testify

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:20 , Andrea Blanco

The defence said Ms Paltrow’s children Apple and Moses Martin will testify.

They were 11 and 9, respectively, at the time of the accident.

Ms Paltrow’s television writer husband Brad Falchuk is also expected to take the stand.

Skiing is an ‘emotional’ activity for Gwyneth Paltrow, attorney says

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:15 , Andrea Blanco

Defence attorneys said during opening arguments that the fateful day the accident unfolded, Ms Paltrow had arranged a “mixer” with her children and her then-boyfriend, now husband Brad Falchuk’s kids, whoa re close in age.

The defence also argued that it was one of the first times she returned to skiing after her father’s death.