Gwyneth Paltrow ski crash court case: US star ‘slammed into fellow skier very hard before bolting’
Gwyneth Paltrow “slammed very hard” into a fellow skier, hitting him directly in the back, as he fell face down, lying “spread-eagled” in the snow, a US court has heard.
The Hollywood actress, 50, has been accused of “dangerous” and “reckless” behaviour before “bolting” down the slope without saying a word, as she faces claims she seriously injured Terry Sanderson in a “hit-and-run” crash in 2016.
The movie star, who is also a lifestyle influencer, allegedly skied “out of control” during a family holiday and hit the retired optometrist at Deer Valley Resort in Utah. He is suing her for $300,000 (£245,000).
She rejects the claim, with her lawyer calling Mr Sanderson’s version of events “utter BS”.
Gwyneth Paltrow in court. Pic: AP
Accuser Terry Sanderson. Pic: AP
The lawsuit claimed Paltrow crashed into him, “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,” it added.
However, the actress’s legal team has told jurors that Mr Sanderson, 76, was the one who crashed into her – a collision in which she sustained what they called a “full body blow”.
On the opening day, the first witness to appear was Craig Ramon, a fellow skier and “acquaintance” of Mr Sanderson who said he was the only other person present at the time of the collision. He had been about 11m (35ft) away.
Mr Ramon said: “We were skiing down the run and then I heard this yell, this scream, and then I looked over and… then I see this skier [Paltrow] just slam into the back of Terry.
“She slammed him very hard. She hits him directly in the back, his skis go out and he falls face down, so he’s kind of spread-eagled and Gwyneth is on top of him… and bounces off and slides about five or 10ft.”
Craig Ramon was the first witness to give evidence
Paltrow, an Oscar-winning actress known for her roles in Shakespeare In Love and Marvel’s Iron Man movies, has alleged Mr Sanderson is actually the culprit in the collision, and has been overstating his injuries as well as trying to exploit her celebrity and wealth.
The US star sat in court wearing a high-necked cream jumper and brown trousers as the case began in the Utah ski town of Park City.
Mr Ramon said he had asked both Mr Sanderson and Paltrow if they were alright.
“Terry wasn’t moving, his face was in the snow… his helmet was stuck in the snow. [Paltrow] just looked at me and I asked her again. She got up pretty quick… [but] she never said a word,” he said.
Ski instructor ‘yelled’ at Mr Sanderson
Mr Ramon said a ski instructor, later identified as Eric Christiansen, had arrived after and started “yelling” at Mr Sanderson.
He said Paltrow had then “bolted” down the hill.
Mr Ramon added Paltrow had not offered her name or contact information, and did not ask if Mr Sanderson was hurt or required help.
Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Lawrence Buhler, representing Mr Sanderson, told jurors that Paltrow’s behaviour on the mountain in 2016 had been “reckless” and he accused her of a “conscious disregard for other people on the mountain”.
Mr Buhler claimed she “knew that looking up the mountain and to the side while skiing down the mountain was dangerous”.
The defence is seeking damages of up to $3,276,000 (£2,688,000), according to Mr Buhler.
Who was farther downhill?
On ski slopes, Utah law gives the skier who is downhill the right of way, and a central question in the case is who was farther down the beginner’s run when the collision happened.
Both Paltrow and Mr Sanderson claim they were farther downhill when the other rammed into them, causing their skis to intertwine and the pair to tumble.
The defence’s case
Paltrow’s legal team maintain that Mr Sanderson was the one who crashed into her.
Her lawyer Steve Owens called Mr Sanderson’s version of what happened in the incident “utter BS”.
He also said that members of Paltrow’s group checked on Mr Sanderson, who assured them he was fine – an interaction Mr Sanderson does not deny but said in court filings that he cannot remember.
Mr Owens added Paltrow had told her daughter that “some A-hole” had run into her and had been “mad” later, choosing to finish skiing for the day.
Mr Sanderson has accused Deer Valley and its workers of being involved in a “cover up” by not providing complete information on incident reports and not following resort safety policies.
Mr Sanderson first sued Paltrow in 2019, seeking $3.1m (£2.5m) in damages, before that claim was dropped.
Read more from Sky News:
Bruce Willis celebrates 68th birthday following dementia diagnosis
Harry Potter actor dies after collapsing outside King’s Cross
The actress countersued for a symbolic $1, saying it was Mr Sanderson who had caused the crash.
Paltrow’s claim said she was shaken by the collision, adding that Mr Sanderson apologised to her and said he was fine.
The trial is scheduled to last for eight days.
Entertainment
‘I’m shocked at how fragile I am still’: Cumberbatch and Colman on protecting their sanity from perils of social media
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch says he’s shocked at how “fragile” he still is – despite years in the spotlight and success in the industry.
It might seem like the Doctor Strange star and The Crown actress Olivia Colman have it all when it comes to money and success – but they are also human like the rest of us.
The pair lead the cast of new satirical black comedy The Roses, which sees picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo Rose – a rising star chef and ambitious architect – raise their two children in California, while chasing their own dreams.
‘I am shocked at how fragile I am’
But behind its dark humour and comic language, the film also looks at the realities of power imbalance, insecurity and wounded pride – in even the strongest of relationships.
And 49-year-old Cumberbatch – whose character faces a major setback in his career – tells Sky News that in real life the glare of social media only intensifies those type of situations.
“I am shocked at how fragile I am still.
“I don’t go anywhere near it [social media] because of that.
“It’s like walking into a place where people want to marry you or kill you. Those extremes.
“I think we will get to a stage, a corporate culture that’s now manifested around it where people are obliged to do that in order to sell their lives, and therefore their brand and what they do for a living.”
Co-star Colman – who’s long-shunned the online world – agrees.
Cumberbatch and Colman in The Roses. Pic: Jaap Buitendijk/ Searchlight Pictures
Read more from Sky News:
Taylor Swift announces engagement to Travis Kelce – and reveals huge ring
Bridgerton creator on ‘bizarre’ criticism – Watch
“I’m afraid I am very thin-skinned.
“I don’t look at any of it. My husband will look at a review and if it’s nice he’ll show me – but if it’s anything mean he knows to just go ‘don’t look – don’t look.’
“You just have to learn to be thicker-skinned.
“But actually, I think we need people who are sensitive and kind.”
‘Don’t do it… delete it all’
Colman – now 51, and whose leading role in The Favourite bagged her an Academy Award in 2019 – says no amount of experience and success can shield her from criticism.
“My advice to a young’un – sort of dipping their toe into the world of social media for the first time is absolutely don’t do it.
“Delete it all. If you want a happy life, don’t have any of it. I’ve never had it.”
The movie – directed by Meet The Parents’ Jay Roach with The Favourite screenwriter Tony McNamara – also calls into question the notion of success – asking, is it really possible to have it all?
Or is sacrifice inevitable when it comes to spinning the plates of a high-flying career, marriage and parenthood?
Cumberbatch admits “you can’t do it all without there being a cost”.
“You just have to weigh up what those balances are,” he adds.
Colman says “there are I suppose little sacrifices along the way” – from both sides of a relationship.
The comedy drama offers a fresh take on Warren Adler’s novel The War Of The Roses – and the 1989 hit film adaptation- starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
Colman and Cumberbatch – both producers on the film – insist they weren’t daunted by that though.
“We wanted to find a project to do together, and we have utter respect for the iconic status of the film and book,” explains Cumberbatch.
“Hopefully this will have its own place in the culture – it’s very different, it’s not a remake – it’s a reimagined jumping-on point.”
“But beyond that, it’s very different,” adds Colman.
Former Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa and Barbie’s Kate McKinnon also form the cast.
The Roses is out in UK cinemas now.
Entertainment
Top Boy and Eddington actor Micheal Ward granted bail as he appears in court on rape charges
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment11 months agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024