A Lifestyle Guru vs. A Retired Optometrist: Who Wins?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably seen the news surrounding the Utah civil trial involving Gwyneth Paltrow. The actress is being sued by retired optometrist Terry Sanderson who accuses her of wrongdoing regarding a 2016 ski collision. The trial has been going on for two weeks now, and there’s a lot to unpack about the collision, such as, who’s at fault, what the possible consequences could be and why the case even went to court.

Ski collision lawsuits happen all the time, especially in Utah — home to some of the world’s best ski resorts. Most cases settle out of court, but according to law experts, this case was bound to make it to trial. Paltrow’s a celebrity, which means her high-profile status is one reason, but another big reason this case was bound to make it to court is that both sides have vastly different versions of what happened on the ski slopes that day.

Background on the Case

So what exactly happened back in 2016? The civil trial stems from a ski trip at Deer Valley Resort — a luxury alpine ski resort in the Wasatch Range in Utah — where Paltrow and Sanderson collided on the slopes. Sanderson filed the lawsuit against Paltrow in 2019 and claimed negligence, saying she was distracted when she crashed into him while on the beginner slopes. He claims the collision caused him to break four ribs and suffer a traumatic brain injury that has caused lasting brain damage and emotional distress. Court documents show that Sanderson originally sued Paltrow for $3.1 million but he reduced it to more than $300,000 after a judge dismissed some of his claims and damage requests.

Paltrow disputes many of Sanderson’s claims, saying it was the retired optometrist who caused the collision when he skied into her. She and her lawyers filed a countersuit alleging that Sanderson was trying to take advantage of her fame and that his medical problems predated the ski collision. Paltrow’s team is counter-suing for $1 and attorney fees.

Court arguments from both sides paint their respective clients as avid and safe skiers. However, they have traded blows and accusations about who is at fault and what happened that day on the Deer Valley slopes. The case overall raises the question: who exactly is liable when a collision happens on the slopes? Both Paltrow and Sanderson agree they collided, but who is at fault?

Sanderson’s Claims

Sanderson took the stand Monday, March 20 to testify in the case. The retired optometrist stated the crash left him with permanent brain injuries, which have completely changed his life. During his testimony, Sanderson recalled being hit directly in the back and was sent “flying” into the snow. He couldn’t recall if he hit his head on the ground but said everything went black. Sanderson also claimed that Paltrow and her ski instructor didn’t ask him if he was okay and skied away without getting him medical help. When asked about the impact of the crash Sanderson described the long-term effects it has had on his life, stating that he now struggles with communication, memory lapses and personality changes. When asked by his attorney what had changed in his life, Sanderson replied that he was “living another life now.”

Paltrow’s Side of the Story

Paltrow took the stand on Friday, March 24 to tell her side of the story. She told the Utah jury it was Sanderson, who “unequivocally” collided with her from behind on the slopes. The actress even stated she, at first, thought the accident was a “sexual assault” or even a “practical joke.” Although she later clarified she didn’t believe it was an assault — saying it was just a thought that ran through her head — she remembered being very angry and screaming at Sanderson after the collision. Later in her testimony, Paltrow apologized for yelling but repeatedly stated Sanderson was the one who caused the crash. She also claimed that while she did not ask Sanderson about his condition after the crash, she and her instructor stayed on the slope long enough to make sure he stood up and said he was OK.

The trial began on March 20 and is scheduled to end on March 30, after eight full days in court. Jurors will then decide which side was at fault and make their decision.

Who do you think is winning this trial? Tweet us @VALLEYMag with your thoughts!

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