Tuesday’s testimony by an eyewitness showed that Gwyneth Paltrow, actor, crashed into another skier at Utah’s Deer Valley Resort in a 2016 collision. This injures him. Paltrow’s lawyer refuted this sequence of events.
Paltrow appeared in court in Summit County, Utah for the first day in trial. She is charged with causing Terry Sanderson “a concussion and brain injury” according to an initial lawsuit.
Paltrow denied being at fault for the February 26, 2016, accident, and claimed Sanderson was exploiting Sanderson’s wealth and celebrity.
Sanderson seeks $300,000. This is an amended request from Sanderson who previously requested $3.1 million. Sanderson is being counter-sued by Paltrow for $1.
Sanderson and Paltrow disagree about who hit whom, and who was higher up the hill when the crash occurred. Deer Valley’s website says that the person in front or below has the right of way.
Lawrence Buhler, Sanderson’s lawyer, stated in his opening statement, that Paltrow wasn’t looking in front of her when she was skiing downhill, but instead, was looking at her children, who were with instructors.
Buhler stated that Craig Ramon was the only eyewitness to the accident. He was with a group of skiers who were skiing 35 feet uphill.
Buhler stated that Sanderson wasn’t responsive after the crash and Paltrow was able get up again. Paltrow and Ramon were both ski instructors, so one of them skied to Sanderson before Sanderson was able to get medical help.
Ramon, who claimed to be Sanderson’s friend, corroborated the allegations against Paltrow through his own testimony.
“We were going down the hill when I heard this, this scream. I looked up and saw that it was only a matter of seconds. Ramon stated Tuesday that he heard the screams and saw Terry’s back being slashed by the skier.
Ramon stated that Paltrow struck Sanderson “hard” and bounced off him. He landed a few feet to Sanderson’s left. Paltrow stood up when Ramon got to them but didn’t answer whether she was okay.
Ramon stated that an instructor approached Sanderson and was “very hostile” towards him, who was still lying facedown in the snow.
Terry starts shouting at him, “What did you do ?’…?” Terry is still not moving. He’s lying face down on the ground and keeps repeating, “What did you do?” Ramon stated.
Ramon stated that Paltrow fled the scene around three to four minutes after the accident, but she did not identify herself or ask for help.
Ramon claimed Sanderson was “outta it” during this time and complained about Sanderson’s ribs.
Ramon said that the instructor stayed for a few more seconds and “yanked” Sanderson up to his feet, without checking for neck or back injuries. He then left.
Ramon flagged a ski patrol member, and staff took Sanderson on a sled to a first aid station.
Paltrow’s lawyer Stephen Owens disputed the opening statement. Sanderson claimed that Sanderson caused the accident as he was trying to avoid another skier. He interlocked his skis with Paltrow’s and crashed into her from behind.
Owens said that Sanderson apologized to Paltrow and stated to others that he was not sure what had happened. He claimed that Paltrow stayed at the resort until a ski patrol arrived and Sanderson assured him that he was fine.
Owens claimed that Sanderson (now 76) had suffered from ailing health before the accident. He was partially blind and had dementia.
Ramon, who was cross-examined, clarified that he had previously stated that Gwyneth Paltrow was his “buddy”.
Ramon stated, “I get dyslexic whenever I get nervous.” He said that Gwyneth was just taken out by your friend.
Owens asked Ramon why Ramon didn’t correct his instructor’s assumption that Sanderson had knocked into Paltrow.
Ramon stated, “He was shouting and I didn’t want to get in an argument with him.”
Paltrow’s lawyer also asked Ramon about the timeline and any discrepancies between his previous statements and Tuesday’s testimony.
Owens read from the deposition Tuesday where Ramon replied that Sanderson had said he was OK. But Ramon claimed Owens was misinterpreting it.
Ramon stated, “I don’t think I understood your question because he wasn’t OK.” He couldn’t stand.
Cross-examination revealed that Ramon was not only focused on Sanderson when he was skiing, but he also denied seeing any ski patrol members at the scene of the collision.
“Does it matter that your memory is not perfect? That you may forget some words that were said?” Owens was curious.
Ramon stated, “I pretty much recall.”
Owens asked Ramon if he believed he had a perfect memory. Ramon replied, “false.”
The trial will last approximately eight days and include testimony from Paltrow’s children and medical professionals.
