Actress and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in a Utah court on Tuesday, as a week-long trial over a 2016 skiing accident involving the actress began.
According to reports, a 76-year-old optometrist, Terry Sanderson, has accused Paltrow of crashing into him and causing serious injuries when they were both skiing at Deer Valley Resort in 2016. The case was filed by Sanderson later in 2019.
The original claim filed by Sanderson in 2019 reads as follows:
“This case involves a hit-and-run ski crash at Deer Valley, Utah, where defendant Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit the back of Terry Sanderson, another skier, who was downhill, knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries.”
Sanderson also claimed that Paltrow and her ski instructor skied away after the incident without seeking medical help for Sanderson, who had sustained injuries.
Photo by Rick Bowmer / POOL / AFP
Sanderson had originally claimed $3.1m in damages from Paltrow but has since dropped down to $300,000 (R5 561 955, 00).
Paltrow filed a countersuit against Sanderson, claiming that he had skied into her. Her countersuit reads as follows:
“[Gwyneth] was enjoying skiing with her family on vacation in Utah, when Plaintiff – who was uphill from Ms. Paltrow – plowed into her back. She sustained a full ‘body blow.’ Ms. Paltrow was angry with Plaintiff, and said so. Plaintiff apologized. She was shaken and upset, and quit skiing for the day even though it was still morning.”
Paltrow is seeking $1 (R18,201,640) in damages, plus attorneys’ fees.
It has not yet been confirmed if Paltrow herself will take the stand, but her attorney has told the jury that they would hear from Paltrow’s family members who were skiing with her at Deer Valley Resort at the time, including her 16-year-old son, Moses.
Court proceedings are scheduled to last for another week after the trial began in court Yesterday, on Tuesday 22 March.
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Feature Image: RICK BOWMER / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
