The skiing accident that occurred in 2016 has resurfaced for Gwyneth Paltrow, as she was sued by optometrist Terry Sanderson for allegedly crashing into him on the slopes and leaving him injured. Paltrow filed a counterclaim, saying that Sanderson ran into her during the collision. The trial began on March 23, 2021, in the Park City District Court in Utah.
On March 28, Paltrow's children Apple and Moses testified in support of their mother. Moses, who was skiing alongside his instructor, recalled briefly seeing the collision and recognized the equipment his mother was wearing. He heard Paltrow yelling at Sanderson, saying something along the lines of "What the F-word? You just ran into me." Apple, on the other hand, did not witness the accident but heard a commotion soon after. She learned about the incident when meeting her mother for lunch with the rest of their family.
Paltrow's husband, Brad Falchuk, is set to give a statement later in the trial in support of Paltrow's claim that Sanderson was at fault during the accident.
Paltrow has maintained her innocence throughout the trial. When she took the stand on March 24, she detailed the traumatic incident and claimed she originally thought the collision was a sexual assault due to the aggressive nature of the hit. She sustained a full "body blow" and was angry with Sanderson, who apologized. She was shaken and upset and quit skiing for the day even though it was still morning.
Sanderson shared his side of the story on March 27, stating that Paltrow let out a blood-curdling scream before impact. Paltrow was seen chuckling as he spoke about the alleged incident.
The now-retired optometrist initially sought more than $3 million in damages, but he is now seeking $300,000 in the March trial. Paltrow, meanwhile, filed her own countersuit seeking a jury trial and a symbolic $1 in damages.
Throughout the trial, Paltrow has maintained her innocence and has described the impact of the accident on her. She sustained physical and emotional pain, and the incident left her shaken and upset. Paltrow's children and husband have testified in support of her, and the trial continues.