Entertainment
Gwyneth Paltrow looks on during second day of trial as medical experts claim it’s ‘not plausible’ fellow skier crashed into her-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
Terry Sanderson is seeking damages of up to $328k.
Gwyneth Paltrow was present in court for day two of proceedings (Picture: AP)
Gwyneth Paltrow looked on as she sat in court for the second day of her trial over a 2016 ski crash.
The US actress, 50, is being sued by retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, who alleges she collided with him and left him with significant brain injuries.
His defence is seeking damages of up to $3,276,000 (£269k), said Mr Lawrence Buhler, who is representing Ms Paltrow.
Meanwhile, Ms Paltrow, who has been described by her legal team as a ‘conservative’ skier, is counter-suing Sanderson for one dollar, alleging that he was the one who crashed into her.
On day two of proceedings, the Goop founder cut a solemn figure as she listened to evidence, dressed in a long white cardigan with brown trousers.
The court heard on Wednesday (March 22), that injuries sustained by Sanderson could not ‘plausibly’ have been caused by him crashing into her.
The Goop founder wore a long cardigan with brown trousers and gold jewellery (Picture: AP)
Ms Paltrow’s family are also expected to take the stand (Picture: AP)
Mr Sanderson showed ‘typical hallmarks’ of a traumatic brain injury and ‘deteriorated abruptly’ following the incident seven years ago at the Deer Valley Resort in Utah.
He alleges that the Oscar-nominated star ‘slammed’ into him from behind, leaving him unresponsive and with several broken ribs.
Today in Park City, Utah, jurors heard testimony from two medical experts, radiologist Dr Wendell Gibby, and neurologist Dr Sam Goldstein.
Dr Gibby told the court that Mr Sanderson would have ‘protected himself’ if he had been colliding with Ms Paltrow head on.
‘I think it’s very unlikely that this would have been caused by Terry running into Gwyneth Paltrow,’ he said.
‘Based on the stated testimony of the defendant, of (witness) Craig Ramon, and the pattern of injuries that are present… what I believe happened was that he was struck from the left side and that forced him into the ground.
Dr. Wendell Gibby testified (Picture: AP)
Medical experts said it wasn’t ‘plausible’ that Terry Sanderson’s injuries were caused by him crashing into Ms Paltrow (Picture: AP)
‘The combined weight of the two individuals slamming into the ground caused the fracture and the head injury.
‘I don’t think it would be plausible that if he were running into her he would have broken the ribs on the side of his chest – he likely would have had his arms extended, he would have protected himself.’
He explained that if he had been ‘the person running into her’, he doesn’t believe ‘he would have sustained these types of injuries.’
Dr Gibby added that prior to the incident, Mr Sanderson had been ‘a very high-functioning, high-energy person’.
‘But after his accident he deteriorated abruptly and many of the activities he was doing he stopped doing,’ he told the court.
‘His personal interactions with his children and grandchildren suffered and he had trouble multi-tasking… Those are all typical hallmarks of someone who has had a traumatic brain injury.
Retired optometrist Mr Sanderson alleges Ms Paltrow caused the crash which left him with significant brain injuries (Picture: AP)
Mr Sanderson is seeking damages up to $3,276,000 (£269k) (Picture: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)
‘I think that the ability to function at a high level was lost for Terry… many of the things that gave him pleasure in life seem to have been abruptly diminished by this injury.’
Mr Goldstein said the incident had caused an ‘acute rapid downturn’ in Mr Sanderson’s behaviour and functioning that had not stemmed from pre-existing medical issues.
‘Were it not for that particular accident, the life he was living (prior)… would be the life he would still be living,’ Mr Goldstein said.
‘These previous vulnerabilities don’t explain the acute change and now the long-term change in his behaviour and functioning – this is an acute and rapid downturn.’
He added that Mr Sanderson was not ‘faking’ his problems or ‘making a mountain out of a molehill’.
More: Trending
Previously, during the first day of the trial, jurors heard from Mr Ramon, who had been skiing with Mr Sanderson and was present in the aftermath of the collision.
Mr Ramon said he had seen a skier, later identified as Paltrow, ‘slam’ into Mr Sanderson and later ‘bolt’ down the hill without saying a word.
He also said that a Deer Valley employee had arrived on the scene shortly after, who had told him ‘your buddy just took out Gwyneth Paltrow’.
The trial continues.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Follow Metro on Snapchat
You can follow our new Snapchat show Pop Cultur’d, the go-to place for all things pop culture.
Keep up with the latest Showbiz exclusives by following Metro Showbiz on Snapchat.
And football fans can indulge in all the transfer gossip and more on Metro Football on Snapchat.
Entertainment – MetroRead More
