On Tuesday, March 21, Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in court in Park City, Utah, to settle a claim that she collided with a man while skiing in the well-known ski resort of Deer Valley on Flagstaff Mountain. Following the incident on February 26, 2016, retired optometrist Terry Sanders sued the celebrity for $300,000. In January 2019, when he first filed a claim for damages, he requested $3 million. The wellness expert, however, has countersued, claiming that he was the one who struck her.
Sanders, 76, claims the collision was the result of negligence and left him with physical and psychological harm, including four broken ribs and a long-term traumatic brain injury. The Goop founder’s attorney, Steve Owens, reportedly called the lawsuit “total B. S. “during the first day’s opening remarks in the trial. At the same time, Sander’s attorney claimed that Gwyneth Paltrow “skied out of control. “Paltrow stood up, turned, and skied away, leaving Sanders confused, lying in the snow, critically hurt,” they added.
The actress, however, has called the lawsuit “meritless,” asserting that not only does she recall the incident “perfectly,” but also that the complaint is an “effort to exploit her celebrity and fortune.”. “.
In her countersuit, Paltrow claims that her ski instructor, Eric Christiansen, saw the accident and determined that she was not at fault. She was also skiing with her son, Moses Martin, 16, whom she shares with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The Oscar-winning actress’ attorney also disclosed during opening statements that Moses would testify in his mother’s defense, saying he saw her lying on the ground after the collision and further downhill than Sanders (under Utah law, the skier higher on the mountain is required to give those below the right of way). Additionally testifying will be Apple, her daughter, age 18, and her spouse, Brad Falchuk.
The trial’s first day, which the Associated Press reports will last more than a week, was attended by Sanders and Paltrow.
