Gwyneth Paltrow ​Sued for 2016 Skiing Accident: Everything to Know About the Trial and Lawsuit

Credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/Shutterstock

Gwyneth Paltrow ​Sued for 2016 Skiing Accident: Everything to Know About the Trial and Lawsuit

Seven years after Gwyneth Paltrow’s skiing accident occurred in Utah, the lawsuit is officially headed to court. In January 2019, the Goop founder was sued by a doctor named Terry Sanderson after he claimed that Paltrow injured him during a crash while skiing in Deer Valley, Utah, in February 2016. “Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit the back of Terry Sanderson, another skier, who was downhill, knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries,” court documents obtained by Us Weekly stated. “Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured.” The optometrist also alleged that a Deer Valley ski instructor approached Sanderson after the incident, but “also failed to send help." He went on to accuse the employee of filing a false report to protect the Iron Man actress. [sendtonews type="float" key="cllR7hVc0b-2827862-14453"] “[The ski instructor] filed a false report to protect his client, Ms. Paltrow,” the documents claimed. “Neither Ms. Paltrow nor Deer Valley lodge personnel notified emergency responders about the injured Dr. Sanderson.” The now-retired medical professional further claimed at the time that the Oscar winner and instructor caused him “emotional distress” by “ignoring, denying assistance to, and skiing away” after the alleged crash. Sanderson filed the lawsuit seeking more than $3 million in damages. Paltrow, for her part, denied the allegations and told Us in a statement, “This lawsuit is completely without merit and we expect to be vindicated.” One month later, the Shakespeare in Love star went on to file a countersuit against Sanderson. The February 2019 court documents stated that Paltrow was seeking a jury trial and a symbolic $1 in damages. “[Paltrow] was enjoying skiing with her family on vacation in Utah, when Plaintiff — who was uphill from Ms. Paltrow — plowed into her back,” the docs read. “She sustained a full ‘body blow.’ Ms. Paltrow was angry with Plaintiff, and said so. Plaintiff apologized. She was shaken and upset, and quit skiing for the day even though it was still morning.” In March 2023, it was revealed the civil lawsuit was moving forward and would go to trial at the Park City District Court. The case is scheduled to start on March 21 and will proceed for eight days. According to docs obtained by Us, the judge lowered the doctor’s claim from $3.1 million to $300,000. Keep scrolling for everything to know about the incident:

Credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/Shutterstock

Gwyneth Paltrow ​Sued for 2016 Skiing Accident: Everything to Know About the Trial and Lawsuit

Seven years after Gwyneth Paltrow’s skiing accident occurred in Utah, the lawsuit is officially headed to court. In January 2019, the Goop founder was sued by a doctor named Terry Sanderson after he claimed that Paltrow injured him during a crash while skiing in Deer Valley, Utah, in February 2016. “Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit the back of Terry Sanderson, another skier, who was downhill, knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries,” court documents obtained by Us Weekly stated. “Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured.” The optometrist also alleged that a Deer Valley ski instructor approached Sanderson after the incident, but “also failed to send help." He went on to accuse the employee of filing a false report to protect the Iron Man actress. [sendtonews type="float" key="cllR7hVc0b-2827862-14453"] “[The ski instructor] filed a false report to protect his client, Ms. Paltrow,” the documents claimed. “Neither Ms. Paltrow nor Deer Valley lodge personnel notified emergency responders about the injured Dr. Sanderson.” The now-retired medical professional further claimed at the time that the Oscar winner and instructor caused him “emotional distress” by “ignoring, denying assistance to, and skiing away” after the alleged crash. Sanderson filed the lawsuit seeking more than $3 million in damages. Paltrow, for her part, denied the allegations and told Us in a statement, “This lawsuit is completely without merit and we expect to be vindicated.” One month later, the Shakespeare in Love star went on to file a countersuit against Sanderson. The February 2019 court documents stated that Paltrow was seeking a jury trial and a symbolic $1 in damages. “[Paltrow] was enjoying skiing with her family on vacation in Utah, when Plaintiff — who was uphill from Ms. Paltrow — plowed into her back,” the docs read. “She sustained a full ‘body blow.’ Ms. Paltrow was angry with Plaintiff, and said so. Plaintiff apologized. She was shaken and upset, and quit skiing for the day even though it was still morning.” In March 2023, it was revealed the civil lawsuit was moving forward and would go to trial at the Park City District Court. The case is scheduled to start on March 21 and will proceed for eight days. According to docs obtained by Us, the judge lowered the doctor’s claim from $3.1 million to $300,000. Keep scrolling for everything to know about the incident:

Credit: Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

How Did the Accident Happen?

Sanderson claimed that Paltrow was skiing out of control and hit him in the back and fled the scene. However, the Marvel star refuted the claims and accused Sanderson of crashing into her.

Credit: Courtesy CBS Sunday Morning Twitter

Has Gwyneth Paltrow Responded to the Ski Lawsuit?

“This lawsuit is completely without merit and we expect to be vindicated,” Paltrow said in a statement to Us in January 2019 before filing her own countersuit.

Credit: Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock

What Did Terry Sanderson Accuse Gwyneth Paltrow of?

The doctor alleged that the Emma actress slammed into him which knocked him out and caused several serious conditions including a brain injury and four broken ribs.

Credit: Shutterstock

Did Terry Sanderson Sue Gwyneth Paltrow?

Sanderson filed a lawsuit against Paltrow seeking more than $3.1 million in damages. A judge dismissed the eye doctor’s original claim and removed the Utah Resort and Paltrow's instructor from the suit. However, the judge did allow the suit to go forward as a $300K claim instead of the original $3.1 million. 

Credit: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Is Gwyneth Paltrow Returning to Court?

Paltrow appeared in court on the first day of the trial and the judge revealed she and Sanderson will both take the stand.

Credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/Shutterstock

What Did Gwyneth Paltrow Say Happened?

The Shallow Hal star refuted the claims made by Sanderson. In docs obtained by Us, Paltrow said she “remained on [the] scene” with her ski instructor as they stopped and “rendered aid” to the point when they felt the doctor was not seriously injured.

According to court docs obtained by Us, Paltrow later filed a countersuit in February 2021 seeking damages worth $1 and the costs to cover her attorneys’ fees so she could “defend this meritless claim” against her.

Credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/Shutterstock

How Long Will the Case Go On?

The jury trial is scheduled to go for eight days starting March 21.

Credit: News 19 WLTX/YouTube

How Is Gwyneth Handling the Trial?

During the March 24 hearing, Sanderson’s daughter, Shae Sanderson Herath, took the stand in support of her father. After she made a comment about Sanderson being “ignored on the mountain" — seemingly referring to Paltrow’s alleged lack of action — the actress grew frustrated.

When the camera panned over to the Shallow Hal actress, she was shaking her head and appeared to be annoyed by Herath’s comments. The judge, meanwhile, instructed the jury to disregard the last part of the witness’ statement as it was “hearsay.”

Credit: Rick Bowmer/AP/Shutterstock

What Did Gwyneth Paltrow Say in Her Testimony?

On day 3 of the trial, the Glee alum took the stand to share what she remembered from the incident and reiterated her claims that Sanderson crashed into her. During the incident, she recalled thinking it was initially a sexual assault but clarified she no longer believes that to be the case

“So that was a quick thought that went through my head when I tried to reconcile what was happening,” Paltrow testified when asked about the sexual assault remark. “I was skiing and two skis came between my skis forcing my legs apart and then there was a body pressing against me and there was a very strange grunting noise so my brain was trying to make sense of what was happening. I thought, ‘Is this a practical joke? Is someone doing something perverted? This is really, really strange.’ My mind was going very quickly and I was trying to ascertain what was happening.”

While being questioned by Sanderson’s attorney, Paltrow opened up about her reaction following the accident.

“I froze when he slid between my skis, I absolutely froze and I don’t remember yelling or screaming until I was very angry at what had happened,” she said to the court later with Sanderson’s lawyer reminding her she said, “You skied directly into my f—g back.” Paltrow, for her part, apologized for her “bad language.”