31 Mar 2023

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow cleared in ski-crash trial

12:03 pm on 31 March 2023
PARK CITY, UTAH - MARCH 24: Gwyneth Paltrow testifies during her trial on March 24, 2023, in Park City, Utah. Terry Sanderson is suing actress Gwyneth Paltrow for $300,000, claiming she recklessly crashed into him while the two were skiing on a beginner run at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah in 2016.   Rick Bowmer-Pool/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by POOL / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Gwyneth Paltrow testifies during her trial on March 24, 2023, in Park City, Utah. Photo: POOL / AFP

A jury in Utah has found Oscar-winning actor Gwyneth Paltrow was not responsible for injuries sustained by a man during a ski slope collision at an upscale Park City resort in 2016.

Terry Sanderson, a retired optometrist, suffered a concussion and four broken ribs in the incident.

He said the injuries led to a traumatic brain injury and had sought more than $US300,000 in damages from Paltrow at a civil trial.

Sanderson, 76, said a woman he later learned was Paltrow was skiing out of control when she ran into his back and sent him flying on a hill at Deer Valley Resort.

A friend of Sanderson's testified that he saw Paltrow crash into the former doctor.

Paltrow said she did not cause the accident and that it was Sanderson who struck her from behind.

The jury determined that Paltrow was not at fault and said that Sanderson was at fault "100 percent".

Paltrow nodded to herself as the verdict was read and appeared pleased.

The jury awarded Paltrow the $1 in symbolic damages that she had asked for in a countersuit.

Paltrow previously said she asked for the nominal fee because "it's symbolic".

"I'm asking for a dollar for me and then reimbursement of attorneys' fees, which is a separate thing," Paltrow said.

- Reuters / BBC