Gwyneth Paltrow ski crash trial: Gwyneth Paltrow’s attorney calls man’s $450k Utah ski crash story ‘completely false’ in court
Gwyneth PaltrowHer attorney called the story of a retired ophthalmologist suing her over a 2016 ski collision “totally BS” on Tuesday on the opening day of the trial in Utah, where the influenced the lifestyle of the actor who appeared in court with a sullen look.
Paltrow and Terry Sanderson, the man who sued her, sat across from each other in a Park City courtroom as their attorneys delivered opening arguments that provide startlingly different versions of the crash. Both describe their clients as victims and blame each other for the incident at Deer Valley, one of the country’s most upscale ski resorts.
Both showed little emotion when lawyers questioned their credibility and version of facts. Paltrow – wearing a beige knit sweater, harem tweed pants and aviator-style reading glasses – covered her face from photographers with a notebook that read “GP” in blue as she entered and leave the courtroom on the first day of the trial. to last more than a week. Sanderson wore a gray suit and left midway before witnesses began to testify.
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Sanderson claimed that Paltrow was plunging downhill so recklessly that they collided violently, sending him to the ground as she and her entourage continued down the ski-only mountain, famous for its groomed runs, after-ski champagne and a luxury clientele.
“All skiers know that when they’re skiing down the mountain, it’s their responsibility to yield the right-of-way to the skiers below them,” Sanderson’s attorney, Lawrence Buhler, told jurors, who – unlike those selected for most trials – entered the trial. the courtroom smiled, possibly because they were near a big celebrity.
He highlighted Sanderson’s military service record and tried to garner the jury’s sympathy – describing how he broke his ribs and suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash. Trying to create contrast, Buhler describes Paltrow as a rich, experienced skier who applied “So what?” post-collision behavior.
“She hires a lot of ski instructors for her kids, which saves them from having to queue. Private instructors cost thousands of dollars a day,” he said.
Paltrow and Sanderson both agree that they collided at the start of their run seven years ago, but both accuse the other of being at fault and slip up behind them.
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Sanderson is suing Paltrow for $300,000 (about $450,000) — alleging the Park City crash was caused by negligence and left him with painful physical and mental injuries. After the collision, Sanderson’s attorney said their client received urgent care and went to the emergency room.
Park City is a resort town in the Rocky Mountains that hosts the Sundance Film Festival, which attracts lots of celebrities each year.
On ski slopes, Wyoming law allows skiers going downhill to stay on track, so the central question in this case is who has descended further downhill when the collision occurs. Both Paltrow and Sanderson claim they went downhill further when the other crashed into them.
Both sides refer to their clients as conservative skiers who were stunned when an upper skier crashed into them.
Paltrow’s attorneys told jurors on Tuesday that Sanderson was the one who hit her — a collision in which she suffered what they called “a full-body blow.” Attorney Steve Owens noted that members of Paltrow’s team checked on Sanderson, who assured them he was fine — an interaction Sanderson did not deny but said in court filings that he was not. can remember.
Paltrow’s attorney warned jurors not to let sympathy for Sanderson’s illness sway their verdict. He questioned the reliability of the 76-year-old man, noting his age and the documented pre-crash brain injuries. He said the Utah man confirmed he was fine after the collision. Owens also said that Sanderson posted a “very happy, smiling” photo of himself online, after getting bogged down following the crash.
Owens said: “His memory of the case got better and better over the years. That’s all I’ll say. That’s not how memory works.”
The first witness was a friend of Sanderson, who was skiing about 11 meters away at the time of the collision, who testified Tuesday afternoon. Craig Ramon, an outdoor skier more than 150 days a year, said he heard a loud scream and saw Sanderson’s ski noses go up, causing him to fall on his face in an “eagle” fashion as he did so. collide.
Ramon testified that Paltrow hit Sanderson, causing him to bounce back and slide to the right.
Paltrow’s ski instructor, a Deer Valley employee, approached a moment later and said, “Your friend just took down Gwyneth Paltrow,” Ramon testified.
Paltrow’s attorney attempted to portray Ramon as Sanderson’s best friend by showing photos of him smiling calmly with other friends after the collision and issuing – but without probing – an email sequence with Sanderson’s family suggests that the collision was captured with a GoPro camera. The footage has not been viewed or included as part of the trial’s evidence.
After the original lawsuit for $3.1 million (about $4.65 million) was dropped, Sanderson revised the claim and he’s now asking for $300,000 (about $450,000). America). Paltrow – Oscar-winning actor known for his roles in Shakespeare in love and Marvel’s Iron Man film – filed a counterclaim, asking for attorneys’ fees and US$1 (approximately US$1.50) in damages.
Paltrow has alleged that Sanderson was actually the culprit in the collision, exaggerating his injuries and trying to exploit her fame and wealth. In addition to her acting career, she is also the founder and CEO of the high-end healthcare company goop.
“He demanded that Ms. Paltrow pay him millions of dollars. If she does not pay, she will face negative publicity due to his allegations,” her attorney wrote in the court filing. project 2019.
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