The trial about a 2016 ski crash between Gwyneth Paltrow and a retired Utah man who is suing her for recklessness and lasting injuries resumed on Wednesday with more witnesses expected to testify. The opening day of the trial saw Paltrow and the retired optometrist, Terry Sanderson, looking nonplussed as the familiar arguments were presented in court. The incident happened on a beginner’s run at Deer Valley Resort, one of the most upscale ski destinations in the United States, known for its après-ski champagne yurts and proximity to Park City.
While the court has not released a witness list, Wendell Gibby and Sam Goldstein, a radiologist, and neuropsychologist respectively, are expected to testify on Wednesday. They have previously appeared as expert witnesses for Sanderson, who claims to have sustained brain damage and broken ribs from the crash. The court has been debating whether Sanderson’s medical problems stemmed from the collision or were a result of aging.
Both parties blame each other for the crash and rely on a Utah law stipulating that whoever is downhill has the right of way when skiing and snowboarding. Sanderson’s lawyers have called Paltrow a negligent celebrity with little regard for the injuries inflicted upon the 76-year-old military veteran. On the other hand, Paltrow’s attorneys have accused Sanderson of suing her to exploit her wealth and celebrity. Sanderson’s ex-girlfriend and a ski companion who was nearby during the crash testified on Tuesday, describing how the incident had changed Sanderson and contributed to the demise of their relationship.
The trial in Park City is the latest development in the seven-year case. It follows Sanderson’s decision to amend an earlier lawsuit after a $3.1 million complaint that named Paltrow and Deer Valley was dismissed. Paltrow subsequently filed a counterclaim for $1 and attorney fees. She has requested that special restrictions be enforced throughout the trial and has been using a blue notebook to shield her face when entering and exiting the courtroom.
