Oscar-winning actress and Goop CEO Gwyneth Paltrow is facing lawsuits following a 2016 skiing accident.
The actress denied the allegations and later filed a counterclaim. The ruling was announced and many people were surprised.
But Paltrow stood up and whispered something in the plaintiff’s ear before the verdict was read. Read on to find out more…
Thanks to her wellness company Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow is commonly associated with a luxurious lifestyle. As news of his high-profile trial spread, many people wanted to know more.
Terry Sanderson, a retired optometrist, accused Paltrow of assault in 2016. The incident between Sanderson and Paltrow took place on February 26, 2016, at the Deer Valley ski resort in Utah.
The two sides disagreed on many details of the incident, including when and where it occurred. The trial began on March 21, 2023, and lawyers presented their closing arguments on March 30, 2023.
In January of this year, Sanderson claimed that Paltrow “skied out of control” and collided with him.
As a result, he was “knocked down hard, knocked out, and suffered head damage, four fractured ribs, and other critical injuries.”
He decreased his proposed damages from $3.1 million to $300,000 the next month.
Paltrow, on the other hand, filed her own case in February 2019. Sanderson, she claimed, “plowed into her back” and hit her with a “full ‘body blow,’” leaving her “shaken and upset.” Her injuries, she stated, were “very minor.”
She alleged that the litigation was an “attempt to abuse her celebrity and money.”
She requested symbolic damages of $1 “plus her costs and attorney’s fees” for the inconvenience of defending herself against “this meritless allegation.”
The jury heard Paltrow and Sanderson testify about the accident and then decided who was to fault for the incident based on the information given at trial.
Sanderson claimed to be traveling downward while Paltrow was ascending. There was nothing in my line of sight.
He heard a “blood-curdling scream” and then “was struck in my back,” according to his memory. “It [was] all black after that,” he continues.
“I tried to move but couldn’t move a single limb.” My head couldn’t move. “I couldn’t move,” the retired optician explained. “There was no response.”
He believes the accident has changed his personality. He claims his words are now “upside-down and backward.”
He also described himself as a “self-imposed recluse” and said he no longer feels “as engaged” in things or “has the same spark” as he once did.
Nevertheless, Paltrow’s evidence painted a very different picture of what happened.
She recalls taking her kids, Apple and Moses, together with their father, Brad Falchuk, skiing (her only boyfriend).
She claimed, “Mr. Sanderson skied directly into my back.” She reported feeling “extremely upset” following the collision.
When Sanderson’s attorney asked her whether she had “some sympathy for Mr. Sanderson’s declining brain,” she added, “I do. I feel sorry for him. It seems like he’s had a very difficult life.”
“But I did not cause the accident,” she firmly stated. “So I cannot be at fault for anything that subsequently happened to him.”
Testimony was heard from a wide range of individuals, including two of Sanderson’s children, Sanderson’s ex-girlfriend, the individual Sanderson’s counsel claims are the only witness to the collision, a ski expert, employees from Deer Valley, and more.
Steve Owens, Paltrow’s attorney, said, “We are pleased with this unanimous outcome and appreciate the judge and jury’s thoughtful handling of the case. Gwyneth has a history of advocating for what she believes in — this situation was no different, and she will continue to stand up for what is right.”
At the moment widely seen, the famous actress leaned toward Sanderson as she left the courtroom, saying, “I wish you well.”
The actress took legal action and ultimately prevailed. What are your thoughts on this court case? Leave a comment and tell us what you think.
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