Expert says retired doctor’s personality changes could have come from issues before 2016 ski crash

A brain injury expert testified that the retired optometrist’s personality changes and ongoing confusion could have come from issues prior to the 2016 ski collision he’s suing Gwyneth Paltrow over.

Dr Steven Edgley, 49, the University of Utah’s director of stroke rehabilitation, took the witness stand for the defense on Tuesday in the Park City, Utah courtroom. 

Paltrow is in court fighting a lawsuit from Terry Sanderson, the 76-year-old retired optometrist suing her for more than $300,000 over the ski collision that he says left him with broken ribs and years of lasting concussion symptoms.

But Dr Edgley testified that a person knocked unconscious would be unable to state how long they had been out for – a direct jab at Sanderson’s assertion he had blacked out for two minutes. 

A brain injury expert testified that Terry Sanderson’s personality changes and ongoing confusion could have come from issues prior to the 2016 ski collision that he’s suing Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured in court today) over

Dr Steven Edgley, 49, the University of Utah’s director of stroke rehabilitation, took the witness stand for the defense on Tuesday in the Park City, Utah courtroom

Dr Steven Edgley, 49, the University of Utah’s director of stroke rehabilitation, took the witness stand for the defense on Tuesday in the Park City, Utah courtroom

Noting Sanderson had spoken to ski instructor Eric Christiansen after the crash, Dr Edgley added: ‘It was brief [the unconsciousness] if at all. It was likely he had some confusion but if he had no loss of consciousness and no post traumatic amnesia, it cannot be called concussion.’

During his testimony Dr Edgley said Sanderson’s personality changes and ongoing confusion could be ascribed to the depression he suffered from prior to the accident. 

He said: ‘The symptoms of the concussion should last no more than than three months. When they last longer, this is highly correlated with underlying depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions.’

The expert also talked about Sanderson’s penchant for seeking regular medical help – 72 times in the years preceding the crash – and said it was a sign the dad-of-three is either ‘hyper-focused’ on his health or has ‘many medical conditions’.

Dr Edgley said: ‘I did note that he had an expensive history of seeking medical help. Either he has many medical issues before the collision or he is hyper-focused on his symptoms.

‘What’s interesting is that before the collision, he went to his own family doctor and said ‘I’m feeling old’. I have many patients of his age say the same thing.

‘I think it’s important to clarify one thing. The brain is an organ just like any other. With time, it occludes conditions just like any other organ. The plaintiff had objective MRIs showing disease progression before that [the crash].’

The case, which has transfixed the US, centers on a 2016 ski crash that allegedly left Sanderson, 76, with permanent injuries.  

Earlier in court today, Paltrow’s account of the ski collision with Sanderson was shown in an animated reconstruction as the defense claims he was actually the one who hit the actress from behind.

Gwyneth Paltrow's account of the collision with Terry Sanderson was shown in an animated reconstruction as the defense claims he was actually the one who hit the actress from behind

Gwyneth Paltrow’s account of the collision with Terry Sanderson was shown in an animated reconstruction as the defense claims he was actually the one who hit the actress from behind

Dr Irving Scher, an expert in biomechanics who specializes in ski performance, took the stand on Tuesday where he testified that Paltrow’s account of the crash is ‘consistent with the laws of physics and biomechanics’.

The animations showing Paltrow’s version of events were shown in court for a second day in a row, with Dr Scher, who helped prepare the cartoons, giving his opinions on the crash. 

‘Miss Paltrow’s version of events has them “spooning”, coming down together, and that is consistent with their skis being tangled up,’ he said.  

The case, which has transfixed the US, centers on a 2016 ski crash that allegedly left Sanderson, 76, with permanent injuries. 

Dr Irving Scher, an expert in biomechanics who specializes in ski performance, took the stand on Tuesday where he testified that Paltrow’s account of the crash is ‘consistent with the laws of physics and biomechanics’

Dr Irving Scher, an expert in biomechanics who specializes in ski performance, took the stand on Tuesday where he testified that Paltrow’s account of the crash is ‘consistent with the laws of physics and biomechanics’

Dr Scher said Tuesday that his equations and analysis show that Paltrow did not need to land on – or hit – Sanderson to cause his rib fractures.

Concluding his evidence, he said: ‘It’s [Paltrow’s] the only version out of the two that matches with the laws of physics.’

During cross-examination, Sanderson’s attorney Lawrence Buhler asked why witness Craig Ramon was not factored into the animation despite him being present.

Buhler also attempted to throw Dr Scher’s calculations into question by pointing out that he had focused on Paltrow’s version and ignored the testimony of Sanderson and Ramon.

He also noted that Dr Scher’s bill for helping create the animations and testifying had already reached between $10,000 and $15,000.

Paltrow is in court fighting a lawsuit from Sanderson, the 76-year-old retired optometrist suing her for more than $300,000 over a 2016 ski collision that he says left him with broken ribs and years of lasting concussion symptoms. 

The actor and Goop founder-CEO has denied Sanderson’s claims that she crashed into him, countersuing for $1 and contending that he, in fact, skied into her. 

Gwyneth Paltrow strolls into the courtroom in Park City, Utah, after a break on Tuesday wearing a pair of gray wide-leg cropped culottes, a blush pink blouse and her Celine boots

Gwyneth Paltrow strolls into the courtroom in Park City, Utah, after a break on Tuesday wearing a pair of gray wide-leg cropped culottes, a blush pink blouse and her Celine boots

Terry Sanderson listens to testimony in court Tuesday a day after taking the stand

Terry Sanderson listens to testimony in court Tuesday a day after taking the stand

On Monday, Sanderson took the stand, where he recreated the 'blood-curdling scream' he claims he heard just before Paltrow allegedly slammed into him

On Monday, Sanderson took the stand, where he recreated the ‘blood-curdling scream’ he claims he heard just before Paltrow allegedly slammed into him

The animations showing Paltrow’s version of events were shown in court for a second day in a row, with Dr Scher, who helped prepare the cartoons, giving his opinions on the crash

The animations showing Paltrow’s version of events were shown in court for a second day in a row, with Dr Scher, who helped prepare the cartoons, giving his opinions on the crash

During cross-examination, Sanderson’s attorney Lawrence Buhler asked why witness Craig Ramon was not factored into the animation despite him being present

During cross-examination, Sanderson’s attorney Lawrence Buhler asked why witness Craig Ramon was not factored into the animation despite him being present

In an attempt to explain physics to the jurors, Dr. Scher drew stick figures to show how Sanderson and Paltrow would have been traveling that day and where their centers of gravity would have been when the crash happened

In an attempt to explain physics to the jurors, Dr. Scher drew stick figures to show how Sanderson and Paltrow would have been traveling that day and where their centers of gravity would have been when the crash happened

Paltrow’s children Apple, 18, and Moses, 16, had been due to take the stand Monday but could not due to a series of overruns and may now appear tomorrow, via written statements or not at all.

The glamorous actress, 50, arrived shortly before proceedings began at the earlier than usual time of 8.45am wearing her customary $278 Rayban aviator sunglasses, olive green coat and $1,200 tan Celine boots.

Underneath it, the wellness guru wore a pair of gray wide-leg cropped culottes and a blush pink blouse.

Court began with a brief appearance from Steve Graff, the Vice-President of mountain operations at the Deer Valley resort who said he had no concerns about a report written about the crash by ski instructor Eric Christiansen.

He was followed by Dr Scher, who testified that lateral rib fractures can be caused by compression and not just by side contact – contradicting a key medical opinion put forward by Sanderson’s team whose expert Richard Boehme said the dad-of-three’s injuries could only have been caused by a blow to the side.

Paltrow, who arrived at Park City District Court Tuesday, claimed Sanderson collided with her leaving her 'sore' and screaming 'you skied directly into my f***ing back' at the septuagenarian

Paltrow, who arrived at Park City District Court Tuesday, claimed Sanderson collided with her leaving her ‘sore’ and screaming ‘you skied directly into my f***ing back’ at the septuagenarian

The actress was wearing her customary $278 Rayban aviator sunglasses, olive green coat and $1,200 tan Celine boots

The actress was wearing her customary $278 Rayban aviator sunglasses, olive green coat and $1,200 tan Celine boots

Like Dr Scher, the defense’s second expert witness – ski safety expert and accident investigator Paul Baugher – said based on the facts he had seen, Sanderson was at fault for the crash.

Asked if Paltrow had been in control, Baugher said: ‘Yes.’

After saying no to the same question about Sanderson, he said: ‘If you assume the facts we are looking at, Miss Paltrow’s version, then you have to assume she was the skier below and this collision… The failure for someone to look out, even if they’re in control the whole time… By definition, that’s skiing out of control, even if it’s momentary.’

The University of Utah’s director of stroke rehabilitation Dr Steven Edgley, 49, was the third witness to take the stand on Tuesday, telling court that a person knocked unconscious would be unable to state how long they had been out for – a direct jab at Sanderson’s assertion he had blacked out for two minutes.

Noting Sanderson had spoken to ski instructor Eric Christiansen after the crash, Dr Edgley added: ‘It was brief [the unconsciousness] if at all. It was likely he had some confusion but if he had no loss of consciousness and no post traumatic amnesia, it cannot be called concussion.’

It comes after Sanderson recounted on Monday his version of the day of the crash, describing how he had been enjoying his day on the slopes before hearing a ‘bloodcurdling scream’. 

Sanderson explained: ¿I got hit in my back so hard, it felt like it was perfectly centered. Serious, serious smack. And I¿m flying. I¿m absolutely flying. All I saw was a whole load of snow'

Sanderson explained: ‘I got hit in my back so hard, it felt like it was perfectly centered. Serious, serious smack. And I’m flying. I’m absolutely flying. All I saw was a whole load of snow’

Mimicking the sound, the dad-of-three said: ‘Everything was great and than I heard a bloodcurdling scream. Then boom! It was like somebody was out of control, was going to hit a tree and going to die.’

Sanderson added: ‘I got hit in my back so hard, it felt like it was perfectly centered. Serious, serious smack. And I’m flying. I’m absolutely flying. All I saw was a whole load of snow.’

Court also heard from ski instructor Eric Christiansen who had been teaching Paltrow’s son Moses to ski that day.

He denied Sanderson’s claim that he had been knocked unconscious and said he attempted to help both him and Paltrow – contrary to his claims of a ‘hit and run’ crash that left him marooned on the mountaintop with no help.

Christiansen also said he had not yelled at Sanderson, asked the 76-year-old if he was OK and had helped him put his skis back on before following his client down the Bandana run for lunch.

Paltrow (in black) is seen skiing just slightly in front and over to the right of Terry Sanderson (in blue) in an animated reconstruction after she told the court that he crashed into her. Paltrow's children Moses and Apple are seen skiing with their instructor Kari Oaks

Paltrow (in black) is seen skiing just slightly in front and over to the right of Terry Sanderson (in blue) in an animated reconstruction after she told the court that he crashed into her. Paltrow’s children Moses and Apple are seen skiing with their instructor Kari Oaks

On Friday, jurors heard Paltrow’s account of the crash – including that she initially thought she was being sexually assaulted by Sanderson.

The actress said she heard Sanderson making a ‘groaning noise’ as they collided and initially thought she was being assaulted by someone ‘perverted’.

She said: ‘He was making some strange noises that sounded male and he was large so I assumed he was a male.

‘I was confused at first because it’s a very strange thing to happen on a ski slope. I got very upset a few seconds later.

‘There was a body pressing against me and he was making a groaning noise. I didn’t know, is this a practical joke or is someone doing something perverted?’

Last week, jurors heard Paltrow¿s account of the crash ¿ including that she initially thought she was being sexually assaulted by Sanderson

Last week, jurors heard Paltrow’s account of the crash – including that she initially thought she was being sexually assaulted by Sanderson

Gwyneth Paltrow's kids Apple, 18, and Moses, 16, are expected to testify in the actress' $300,000 civil lawsuit over 2016 ski crash which left Utah optometrist with a brain injuries

Gwyneth Paltrow’s kids Apple, 18, and Moses, 16, are expected to testify in the actress’ $300,000 civil lawsuit over 2016 ski crash which left Utah optometrist with a brain injuries

Paltrow in a social media post the year before the accident at Deer Valley resort in Utah. She captioned the post: '20 years later and I still got it #justlikeridingabike'

Paltrow in a social media post the year before the accident at Deer Valley resort in Utah. She captioned the post: ’20 years later and I still got it #justlikeridingabike’

Paltrow denied she had been watching son Moses ski at the time of the crash but was tripped up by testimony from her son’s instructor Kari Oaks.

Conceding the point, she said: ‘I can still watch my children ski and be skied directly into my back by someone and that’s what happened.

‘My daughter was down the hill and my son was to my left, I was skiing and my eyes were not just on Moses.’

At the start of the trial last week, the court had heard from Sanderson’s lead attorney Laurence Buhler who described the actress as ‘callous and reckless’ in his opening speech.

Paltrow’s lawyer Stephen Owens then responded by describing the retiree’s claims as ‘complete B.S’ before attempting to pick holes in his case as a succession of medical experts testified that Sanderson does have a brain injury and it was caused by the crash.

Florida-based neurologist Dr Richard Boehme also told court that Paltrow caused the crash – telling jurors that her version of events is inconsistent with the four broken ribs Sanderson was left with following the February 2016 crash.

His daughters Shae Herath, 52, and Polly Grasham, 49, also spoke in court – detailing the dramatic personality changes their father had allegedly suffered due to his head injury.

Both women became tearful during their testimony and described how Sanderson is now unable to complete the simplest tasks and is easily confused.

Shae said: ‘My dad has quite a few personality issues, the injury to his brain has caused significant damage – enough to cause personality changes.

‘My dad is very insecure, he doesn’t show it but he doesn’t trust his brain anymore. He used to be able to multitask and do all sorts of tasks and now he can’t follow through.

‘As his daughter, I feel that his life is exhausting.’

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