Gwyneth Paltrow's trial begins for Deer Valley ski crash
CTV
Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in court in Utah on Tuesday morning in a lawsuit filed by a retired optometrist who said that the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer violently crashed into him in 2016 while skiing at one of the most upscale ski resorts in the United States.
Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in court in Utah on Tuesday morning in a lawsuit filed by a retired optometrist who said that the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer violently crashed into him in 2016 while skiing at one of the most upscale ski resorts in the United States.
Terry Sanderson, 76, said Paltrow was cruising down the slopes so recklessly that they collided, leaving him on the ground as she and her entourage continued their descent down Deer Valley Resort, a skiers-only mountain known for its groomed runs, apres-ski champagne yurts and posh clientele.
"Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control," Sanderson's attorneys claim in the lawsuit, "knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries. Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured."
In a case that has lasted years, Sanderson is suing Paltrow for US$300,000 -- claiming that the accident in Park City was a result of negligence, and left him with physical injuries and emotional distress. Sanderson and Paltrow both were present in the Park City courthouse on Tuesday to begin the trial that is slated to last longer than a week. A somber-looking Paltrow, wearing a beige knit, tweed harem pants and aviator-style reading glasses, shielded her face from reporters and photographers with a blue portfolio as she entered and exited the courtroom.
Park City is a mountain resort town that hosts the Sundance Film Festival, which draws a throng of celebrities each year.
At ski resorts, the skier who is downhill has the right of way, so a central question in the case is who was farther down the beginner's run when the collision transpired. Both Paltrow and Sanderson claim in court filings that they were farther downhill when the other rammed into them.
Sanderson also accused Deer Valley and its employees of engaging in a "cover up" by not providing complete information on incident reports and not following resort safety policies.
