The accident, whose fault Paltrow disputes, happened in 2016, in the US state of Utah. The plaintiff demands €278,000 from the actress, who sued him back for just a dollar.
Actress and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow, 50, was sued in Utah for allegedly causing a skiing accident through “negligence,” say lawyers for the plaintiff, retired physician Terry Sanderson.
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The accident happened on February 26, 2016, on a slope of the resort from Deer Valley, leaving Sanderson, now 76, with broken ribs and brain damage. The retiree’s legal representation says that, in addition to causing the accident, Paltrow fled the scene without calling for help or confirming that Sanderson was okay.
The doctor demands from the actress $300,000, or €278,000, in damages for the suffering caused, an amount that was $3.1 million, or €2.9 million, before being reviewed. Paltrow, who says the allegations are “completely untrue,” sued him back, asking for just a dollar and representation expenses.
Terry Sanderson maintains that the actress was looking at her children, who were nearby taking ski lessons, at the time of the crash. “She knew that skiing in this way, blindly skiing down the mountain while looking up and to the sides, is irresponsible,” the retiree’s rep said.
“Prior to the accident, Terry was a charming, outgoing and gregarious person,” the lawyers said. “He was living a full life, traveling the world, doing his best to enjoy life and take care of his health”, something that, they argue, he is no longer able to do.
Paltrow’s lawyer, Steve Owens, for his part, maintains that the actress had just started down the mountain when a pair of skis appeared between her legs and the man collided with her from behind. The defense also relies on Sanderson’s previous vision and hearing problems as the main reason for the accident.
The trial, which began on Tuesday, 21, should last eight days, after which the verdict will be known.
