(CNN) — The trial involving Gwyneth Paltrow for a 2016 skiing accident began on Tuesday.
The actress and businesswoman arrived at the Park City, Utah court, where the jury was also present and the opening statements of the case began. Terry Sanderson, 76, accused Paltrow of colliding with him and seriously injuring him while the two were skiing down a Utah mountain in February 2016.
In court documents originally filed by Sanderson, and obtained by CNN in 2019, the plaintiff testified that while skiing at Deer Valley Resort, Paltrow allegedly “lost control while skiing … knocking him down forcefully, knocking him unconscious and causing brain injury, and the fractured four ribs and other serious injuries.”
Sanderson also claimed that Paltrow and her ski instructor left the scene after the incident without providing her with medical attention.
Paltrow filed a counterclaim against Sanderson, a retired optometrist, alleging that he skied toward her.
According to Paltrow’s counterclaim, she “was enjoying skiing with her family while on vacation in Utah, when Plaintiff—who was up Mrs. Paltrow’s hill—rammed into her back. She received a “full body blow”. Mrs. Paltrow was angry with the plaintiff, and she said so. The plaintiff apologized. She was shocked and upset, and she stopped skiing for the day even though it was still morning.”
Gwyneth Paltrow in court in Park City, Utah on Tuesday. (Credit: Court TV)
Sanderson initially sued Paltrow for $3.1 million, but later amended her demand and is now seeking more than $300,000 in damages, according to court documents.
Paltrow is seeking $1 in damages, plus attorneys’ fees.
The judge directed the eight-person jury on Tuesday and attorneys for each side appeared in court before opening statements by one of Sanderson’s attorneys, Lawrence Buhler. Paltrow’s attorney, Steve Owens, followed.
Owens reiterated Paltrow’s claim that she was downhill from Sanderson before the crash occurred.
The trial is expected to last about a week. It is not yet known if Paltrow will take the stand to testify for her, although her attorney told jurors they would listen to family members who were skiing with her at the time of the incident.
CNN has contacted a representative for Paltrow for comment.
(CNN) — The trial involving Gwyneth Paltrow for a 2016 skiing accident began on Tuesday.
The actress and businesswoman arrived at the Park City, Utah court, where the jury was also present and the opening statements of the case began. Terry Sanderson, 76, accused Paltrow of colliding with him and seriously injuring him while the two were skiing down a Utah mountain in February 2016.
In court documents originally filed by Sanderson, and obtained by CNN in 2019, the plaintiff testified that while skiing at Deer Valley Resort, Paltrow allegedly “lost control while skiing … knocking him down forcefully, knocking him unconscious and causing brain injury, and the fractured four ribs and other serious injuries.”
Sanderson also claimed that Paltrow and her ski instructor left the scene after the incident without providing her with medical attention.
Paltrow filed a counterclaim against Sanderson, a retired optometrist, alleging that he skied toward her.
According to Paltrow’s counterclaim, she “was enjoying skiing with her family while on vacation in Utah, when Plaintiff—who was up Mrs. Paltrow’s hill—rammed into her back. She received a “full body blow”. Mrs. Paltrow was angry with the plaintiff, and she said so. The plaintiff apologized. She was shocked and upset, and she stopped skiing for the day even though it was still morning.”
Gwyneth Paltrow in court in Park City, Utah on Tuesday. (Credit: Court TV)
Sanderson initially sued Paltrow for $3.1 million, but later amended her demand and is now seeking more than $300,000 in damages, according to court documents.
Paltrow is seeking $1 in damages, plus attorneys’ fees.
The judge directed the eight-person jury on Tuesday and attorneys for each side appeared in court before opening statements by one of Sanderson’s attorneys, Lawrence Buhler. Paltrow’s attorney, Steve Owens, followed.
Owens reiterated Paltrow’s claim that she was downhill from Sanderson before the crash occurred.
The trial is expected to last about a week. It is not yet known if Paltrow will take the stand to testify for her, although her attorney told jurors they would listen to family members who were skiing with her at the time of the incident.
CNN has contacted a representative for Paltrow for comment.
