Gwyneth Paltrow has won her legal battle over a skiing accident that occurred in 2016 at an upmarket ski resort in Utah, where optometrist Terry Sanderson alleged that the actress had caused him injuries. A jury decided that Paltrow was not at fault for the incident and, instead, awarded her damages. The verdict was reached in a packed courtroom in Park City, Utah, after eight days of live testimony.
During the trial, Paltrow’s lawyers presented high-resolution animations that portrayed her version of events. They also argued that it would have been easier for Paltrow to simply settle the case and move on, but she refused to do so as she wanted to set an example for her children. Paltrow’s trip to Deer Valley Resort in 2016 was the first time that she and her then-boyfriend, Brad Falchuk, had brought their children together in an attempt to unite their families.
Sanderson claimed that Paltrow had collided with him, leaving him with a concussion and four broken ribs. After a judge dismissed his initial claim for damages of $3.1 million, Sanderson amended and re-filed the lawsuit, this time seeking over $300,000. In his final arguments, his lawyers estimated damages at over $3.2m. They argued that Sanderson deserved $33 for every hour that he was awake between the accident and his death, which they claimed would be in ten years’ time. However, the jury ultimately rejected his claim.
Paltrow and Sanderson’s lawyers both portrayed their clients as victims. Paltrow’s team argued that the case was not about money but about the disruption of a sensitive family moment. Sanderson’s lawyers denied that they were targeting Paltrow because of her celebrity status and asked the jury to ignore reports of his pre-existing medical conditions.