The biggest takeaways from Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski-crash trial

Gwyneth Paltrow spent much of the week in a Park City, Utah courtroom, preparing to take the stand in a trial involving a 2016 ski incident at the Deer Valley Resort.

Retired optometrist Terry Sanderson filed the lawsuit in 2019, accusing Paltrow of crashing into him while skiing, knocking him unconscious and causing injuries which led to a physical and mental decline in his health.

Paltrow has denied the claims from the beginning, with a rep of hers saying, “This lawsuit is completely without merit. Anyone who reads the facts will realize that.”

In fact, the 50-year-old Goop founder and CEO filed a countersuit, asking for $1 plus the cost of attorney fees. She said that Sanderson was the one who crashed into her from behind, and that he was only attempting to “exploit her celebrity and wealth,” reports People.

A large part of the trial thus far has centered around proper ski etiquette, which states that the person further down the mountain has the right of way.

Both Paltrow and Sanderson claim to have been the downhill skier in the accident.

Dr. Wendell Gibby, a neuroradiology expert hired by Sanderson’s attorney, says his injuries are evidence that he was hit from behind, but the reported GoPro video of the incident has been missing.

Shortly after the incident, Sanderson reportedly sent a series of emails to his daughter with the subject line “I’m famous ... At what cost?” His daughter responded that she couldn’t believe the crash was caught on GoPro, but Sanderson noted the video hadn’t been recovered.

Paltrow’s team has attempted to use the email subject line as evidence of Sanderson’s interest in her fame and wealth.

They’ve also argued that the medical complications which Sanderson, 76, has experienced since the crash have been due to his age and preexisting conditions, not the crash.

The day the accident occurred also happened to be when Paltrow was introducing her kids to then-boyfriend Brad Falchuk.

Falchuk, her now-husband, is expected to be called to the stand to testify in her defense, along with her 18-year-old daughter Apple and 16-year-old son Moses.

Paltrow is expected to testify Friday or early next week, as the eight-day trial rolls on.

With News Wire Services