Gwyneth Paltrow wins explosive US legal battle after ski crash trial
Gwyneth Paltrow has won her legal battle with Terry Sanderson after he accused her of injuring him in a ski crash.
The retired optometrist alleged that Paltrow skied "out of control" and hit him at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, in 2016.
A judge ruled in favour of Paltrow following the trial which saw jurors hear testimonies from Paltrow, Sanderson, family members and expert witnesses.
On Thursday jurors returned a verdict in favour of Paltrow after just over two hours of deliberation. She was awarded compensatory damages of one dollar.
Speaking after the verdict she said she was “pleased with the outcome”.
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She said: “I felt that acquiescing to a false claim compromised my integrity.
“I am pleased with the outcome and I appreciate all of the hard work of Judge Holmberg and the jury, and thank them for their thoughtfulness in handling this case.”
Gwyneth Paltrow in court during the trial of Terry Sanderson vs. Gwyneth Paltrow (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Sanderson sued Paltrow over the 2016 crash and claimed Paltrow collided with him "knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries".
Sanderson had been seeking damages of $300,000 (£246,000) in the civil lawsuit, while Paltrow, filed a counter-claim, in which she wanted her legal fees paid and damages of $1 (82p).
Paltrow and Sanderson, who both gave evidence during the trial, were present in court for the verdict.
The actress wore a blue blazer, with a white shirt and brown trousers, and did not appear to react as the verdict was returned.
Attorney Steve Owens argued his client did not run into the 76-year-old (Getty Images)As she exited the courtroom she touched Mr Sanderson on the shoulder and whispered something to him.
The original claim, filed in 2019 stated: "This case involves a hit-and-run ski crash at Deer Valley, Utah, where defendant Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit the back of Terry Sanderson, another skier, who was downhill, knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries.
"Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured."
Gwyneth Paltrow had counterclaimed Terry Sanderson's initial filing (Getty Images)The filing also said that a Deer Valley ski instructor, who had been training Paltrow saw Mr Sanderson injured but also made no attempt to help him.
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During the trial, Paltrow took to the stand to say she feels "very sorry" for Sanderson following his injuries.
However, she denied any wrongdoing, reiterating in her testimony multiple times that she had been the "victim" of the crash.
The Oscar-winning actress said she could not be "at fault" for Mr Sanderson’s subsequent health decline as she had not caused the accident.
Terry Sanderson testified in the caseIn his own testimony, Sanderson said: "Everything was great and then I heard nothing I've heard before at a ski resort - it was a blood-curdling scream."
He added: "I got hit in my back so hard ... it felt like a serious serious smack. I've never been hit that hard and I'm flying.
"All I saw was a whole lot of snow and I didn't see the sky, but I was flying in that sense, I had no control.
"The ground was coming up, no-one was in front of me ... it was quite a ways to the ground. I said 'you've gotta protect your face' - that was the last thing I remember.
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