Oscar winner and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow being on trial for a skiing accident was certainly not on our 2023 bingo card.
Over the past week, the 50-year-old actress has been grilled on the stand in Park City, Utah over a 2016 ski field collision. Retired optometrist and fellow ski buff Terry Sanderson, 76, is suing Paltrow for $300,000 (approx. $451,000), claiming she recklessly caused the crash and left him with permanent physical injuries.
Sanderson alleges Paltrow left him with a traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs and claims he “no longer enjoys life”. The Shakespeare in Love star has vehemently denied being involved in a “hit and run” ski accident and has countersued Sanderson for a symbolic $1.
During her time on witness stand, Paltrow’s testimony has delivered some bizarre and and eye-brow raising moments in the courtroom. Here are some of the biggest moments so far.
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Lawyer ‘fangirls’ over Paltrow
Social media can turn almost anything into a meme – including high-profile court cases.
The plaintiff’s lawyer Kristin VanOrman had a bit of a fangirl moment while asking Paltrow questions on the stand, appearing to giggle awkwardly as she grilled the A-list actress.
At one point, the VanOrman asks Paltrow how tall she is and the ensuing conversation resulted in some raised eyebrows.
“I’m just under 5’10’,” Paltrow responded, to which the lawyer said: “I am so jealous”.
“I have to wear 4-inch heels just to make it to 5’5′,” VanOrman added.
Viral clips of this exchange were posted and mocked by punters online, as well as the point VanOrman asked if Paltrow was a “good tipper”.
Her friendship with Taylor Swift
Surprisingly, popstar Taylor Swift’s name was brought up during Paltrow’s testimony.
The Champagne Problems singer also sued for $1 in symbolic damages during her legal battle against DJ David Mueller in 2017, and VanOrman asked if this is where Paltrow got the idea.
Paltrow was asked if she knew about Swift’s suit at the time and VanOrman even queried if the pair were friends.
“I would not say that we’re good friends. We are friendly,” Paltrow responded.
“I’ve taken my kids to one of her concerts before but we don’t talk very often.”
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Paltrow thought the ski collision was an assault
During her testimony, Paltrow admitted she thought the collision on the ski field was an “assault” before she realised what had happened
The Iron Man actress explained her viewpoint of the accident, revealing she “froze” when Sanderson came behind her.
“I was skiing and two skis came between my skis, forcing my legs apart,” she explained. “And then there was a body pressing against me.”
Paltrow then said she believed she was being assaulted, Page Six reports.
“There was a strange grunting noise and a body behind me so I was trying to make sense of what was going on,” she added. “My mind was going very quickly.”
‘You skied into my f—ing back’
As she gave evidence, Paltrow revealed exactly what she said after the collision with Sanderson.
The actress claimed she had been distracted by her children Apple and Moses directly before the accident.
Paltrow said she yelled at Sanderson following the incident: “You skied directly into my f–ing back”. She also relayed this exact statement on the stand.
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Paltrow’s out-of-touch ski comment
While speaking with Sanderson’s lawyer about her $1 countersuit, Paltrow was grilled on what financial losses she experienced from the accident.
When VanOrman said: “[Terry] has deterred you from enjoying the rest of what was a very expensive vacation,” Paltrow responded: “Well, I lost half a day of skiing.”
This remark has been mocked on social media platforms, with some claiming Paltrow appeared out-of-touch.
Shocking X-rays revealed
Two doctors described X-rays, brain scans and neurological tests documenting the medical condition of Sanderson.
“After his accident, he deteriorated abruptly,” Dr Wendell Gibby said of 76-year-old Sanderson.
Sanderson’s attorneys called on medical experts to try to persuade jurors that the collision left their client with irreparable, life-altering injuries.
Gibby, a radiologist, said brain images suggested Sanderson’s head trauma was likely caused by a skier crashing into him, supporting Sanderson’s claims that he was hit by Paltrow.
He said lasting effects on Sanderson’s overall health were consistent with the severity of the collision. “The rib fractures certainly corroborate that there was enough force to cause a head injury,” Gibby added.
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The ‘I’m famous’ email
After the collision, Sanderson sent his daughters an email with the subject line: “I’m famous… At what cost?”
One of the daughters wrote back: “I also can’t believe this is all on GoPro.”
The GoPro footage has not been uncovered nor is it being used in evidence during the trial.
Sanderson’s daughter Polly Grasham was also probed in court over the whereabouts of the footage.
His other daughter, Shae Herath, testified Friday that she didn’t know whether GoPro footage existed, despite her email.
Hiding from the cameras
Throughout the week in Utah, Paltrow’s legal team has asked for special restrictions, including limiting photography both in the courtroom and in the public parking lot outside – where a rope cordons off Paltrow’s entrance and exit paths.
At one point during the week, Paltrow’s lawyer Steve Owens complained about the presence of cameras in the courtroom, claiming it went “against courtroom decorum”.
On the second day of the trial, Owens claimed there was a “new camera pointed directly” at his client.
“This has been a problem, for instance, reporters being in front of my client’s car going out yesterday, cameras in her face, like inches away,” he said.
The trial continues.
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