Share
31st March 2023
06:50am BST
Gwyneth Paltrow has won a high-profile court case against a man who claimed she crashed into him while skiing.
The actress had been accused by retired optometrist Terry Sanderson of crashing into him on a Utah ski slope in 2016.
He had sought $300,000 in damages after he alleged the incident left him with a permanent traumatic brain injury that robbed him of “his enjoyment for life”.
During the trial, Paltrow’s lawyer Steven Owens told the court that his client had become a “punching bag” for Sanderson and his family, saying: “He hurt her and then he asked $3 million for the pleasure of it.”
After two hours and 20 minutes of deliberation, the jurors concluded that Sanderson was 100 per cent at fault for the ski accident and awarded Paltrow a symbolic $1.
Paltrow was seen leaning over and speaking to her defeated opponent after the decision was read out.
The Hollywood star, 50, was photographed in brief conversation with 76-year-old Sanderson as she left the courtroom following the verdict on Thursday evening.
According to the Associated Press, Sanderson told reporters outside the courtroom that she had touched his shoulder and told him: “I wish you well.”
Sanderson said he responded: “Thank you, dear.”
Commenting after the ruling, Paltrow 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.”
Sanderson, meanwhile, said he stands by his version of events.
Asked what he plans to do now, he joked “maybe Disneyland!”
Related links:
Explore more on these topics:
