More witnesses will testify Wednesday in the trial over the 2016 skiing accident between Gwyneth Paltrow and a retired Utah man who is suing her and claiming her negligence caused her injuries and brain damage.
On the opening day of the trial, Paltrow and retired optometrist Terry Sanderson appeared in the courtroom from each other, looking nonplussed to hear the arguments that have become familiar over the past seven years of legal proceedings. Since skiing Paltrow and Sanderson intertwined in what they expected to be a fun day on the slopes with friends and family, the two have been tangled in a long legal drama about what really happened in the beginner’s run that day in one of the most upscale skis. destinations in the United States.
The mountain, Deer Valley Resort, has the most expensive lift tickets in the area and is known for its après-ski champagne yurts and proximity to Park City – a luxury resort town known for hosting the Sundance Film Festival.
Although the court did not publish a list of witnesses, lawyers said Wendell Gibby and Sam Goldstein – a radiologist and a neuropsychologist – will be called to testify on Wednesday. Sanderson’s attorneys said they expect to call four witnesses on Wednesday and open up the possibility that Paltrow could be, depending on when others testify in Park City.
Gibby and Goldstein had previously appeared as expert witnesses for Sanderson, who had said he broke ribs and sustained brain damage from the accident. Until now, attorneys have disputed whether Sanderson’s medical problems stemmed from the accident or were simply a byproduct of aging.
Both sides blame the other for the collision and claim they crashed into the back, depending on the little-known Utah law stipulating that anyone downhill has the right to ski and snowboard. Paltrow’s lawyer asked Judge Kent Holmberg to impose a special restraining order during the actor’s health tycoon trial, where she used a blue notebook to shield her face as she entered and left the courtroom.
They called Sanderson’s story “talking BS” building off previous claims from court filings and previous depositions where they were accused of suing for the exploitation of the Oscar-winning star of “Shakespeare in Love” wealth and celebrity.
Sanderson’s attorneys have so far tried to paint him as an unscrupulous celebrity with no concern for the injuries he inflicted on the 76-year-old military veteran. He called Sanderson’s ex-girlfriend and a skiing friend who were nearby at the time of the accident to testify Tuesday. Karlene Davidson said the accident has “changed” Sanderson and contributed to the demise of their romance. Craig Ramon testified that Paltrow hit Sanderson and then said that one of the family’s ski instructors approached him and said, “Your friend just took Gwyneth Paltrow.”
The trial in Park City is the latest development in the seven-year case and follows Sanderson’s decision to amend a previous lawsuit after a $3.1 million complaint against Paltrow and Deer Valley was dismissed. Paltrow then filed a counterclaim for $1 and attorney’s fees.