Gwyneth Paltrow arrives for second day of ski accident trial

The 76-year-old optometrist suing Gwyneth Paltrow over a ski collision that left him injured was known as ’emotionally abusive’ and ‘quick to anger’ by his family, the civil trial has heard. 

Lawyers for the actress read testimony on Wednesday provided by Terry Sanderson’s daughter, Jenny Sanderson, during their cross-examination of witness, radiologist Wendell Gibby, who was the first to take the stand on the second day of trial. 

Attorney James T. Egan asked Gibby if he was familiar with the claims made in Jenny’s deposition, in which she detailed her strained relationship with her ‘domineering’ father. 

Retired optometrist Terry Sanderson claims Gwyneth Paltrow’s recklessness left him with lasting injuries and brain damage. She is pictured during the second day of trial proceedings on Wednesday 

Dr. Wendell Harlan Gibby testified on Wednesday that Sanderson's brain function 'deteriorated abruptly' following the 2016 ski crash

Dr. Wendell Harlan Gibby testified on Wednesday that Sanderson’s brain function ‘deteriorated abruptly’ following the 2016 ski crash

Gwyneth Paltrow arrived for the second day of trial in Park City, Utah on Wednesday, dressed in a khaki coat, cream belted cardigan, tan corduroy pants, and gold bracelets

Gwyneth Paltrow arrived for the second day of trial in Park City, Utah on Wednesday, dressed in a khaki coat, cream belted cardigan, tan corduroy pants, and gold bracelets

Paltrow, 50, arrived for the second day of trial in Park City, Utah on Wednesday, dressed in a khaki coat, cream belted cardigan, tan corduroy pants, and gold bracelets

According to her testimony, Jenny said she did not feel loved or ‘nurtured’ by Sanderson. 

Elsewhere, she said he was ‘verbally abusive’ towards her and her mother, and that he had always been ‘frustrated and quick to anger,’ according to Egan. 

She also said she has had to take breaks from Sanderson, and did not have a relationship with her dad for 13 years.

Terry Sanderson, 76, sued the Oscar-winning actress in January 2019 and alleged she crashed into the back of him and abandoned the scene of the beginner's run at the exclusive Deer Valley resort in Utah on February 26, 2016

Terry Sanderson, 76, sued the Oscar-winning actress in January 2019 and alleged she crashed into the back of him and abandoned the scene of the beginner’s run at the exclusive Deer Valley resort in Utah on February 26, 2016

Gibby said he could not recall all details of the deposition but admitted he was aware of claims that Sanderson had grown angry with the man his wife was having an affair with and had punched the other man.

The doctor, however, said he believes that behavior was ‘atypical’ of the plaintiff.

Gibby had previously alleged that Sanderson’s relationship with his family only deteriorated after the crash.

Earlier in his testimony, Gibby told the court that Sanderson’s injuries and head trauma indicated he had been hit by Paltrow, not the other way around. 

He testified that Sanderson had four fractured ribs on the right side of his chest following the collision.

He said that those broken bones ‘corroborate that there was enough force to cause a head injury.’

And, he added, he does not believe it would have been possible for Sanderson to have the fractured ribs on the right side of his chest if he had slammed into Paltrow, as she has claimed.

Paltrow enters the courtroom on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Park City, Utah. Doctors and family members are beginning to testify on the second day of trial in Utah

Paltrow enters the courtroom on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Park City, Utah. Doctors and family members are beginning to testify on the second day of trial in Utah

Dr Gibby showed X-rays and brain scans to the court Wednesday which he said indicated Sanderson's injuries were caused by Paltrow slamming into him

Dr Gibby showed X-rays and brain scans to the court Wednesday which he said indicated Sanderson’s injuries were caused by Paltrow slamming into him 

Instead, he suggested Paltrow struck him on the left side and forced him to the ground before she slid over him.

The second day of the Oscar-winner’s trial began with a bout of procedural wrangling by lawyers representing the actress and plaintiff Terry Sanderson, 76, over the testimony of radiologist Wendell Gibby and cameras in court.

Once the jury had been brought in, Dr Gibby was allowed to take the stand where he told jurors that the accident had left Sanderson with a ‘diminished’ ability to enjoy life.

The University of California radiology professor said: ‘Terry had been a very high functioning, high energy person. He had been doing lots of things every day.

‘After his accident, he deteriorated abruptly. His personal interaction with his children and grandchildren suffered. He had problems multitasking.

‘He would go to Home Depot and forget why he was there. He also experienced a worsening of his depression. Those are very typical hallmarks of someone who has had a traumatic brain injury.’

Dr Gibby continued: ‘I think the ability to function at a high level was lost for Terry. Many of the things that gave him pleasure in life and friendships and relationships appear to have been abruptly diminished after the accident.’

Later in his testimony, the doctor also denied that Sanderson’s condition could be related to underlying conditions.

He said that even though images showed dilated ventricles in his brain back in 2009, Sanderson was not exhibiting any symptoms related to the issue — noting he did not have any issues with his gait or urinary issues at the time.

‘I think it was just serendipity that these images found these dilated ventricles, but in Terry’s case, I don’t think they were causing symptoms,’ adding that he doesn’t think they contributed to his condition now.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s lawyer complained about a new camera pointing ‘directly’ at the actress at her trial on Wednesday, claiming it violated courtroom ‘decorum’. 

Attorney Steve Owens raised the issue with Judge Kent Holmberg just before the second day of proceedings could begin, pointing to a camera that had been placed in front of his client, who appeared alongside him visibly annoyed. 

The GOOP founder and actress issued a chipper greeting to media outside the courthouse as she arrived wearing the same shoes and coat as yesterday

The GOOP founder and actress issued a chipper greeting to media outside the courthouse as she arrived wearing the same shoes and coat as yesterday

The accident occurred on Utah's Bandana Mountain in 2016. The ski run where the accident took place was shown in court Tuesday

The accident occurred on Utah’s Bandana Mountain in 2016. The ski run where the accident took place was shown in court Tuesday 

He also claimed Paltrow had been hounded by photographers and reporters when she left court Tuesday and asked to be notified of any changes involving photography at the trial. 

‘Your honor we have a new camera pointed directly at my client, right there on the right, which I understand is from the AP,’ he said pointing to the lens. 

He added: ‘And this has been a problem, for instance reporters being in front of my client’s car, going out yesterday. Cameras in her face.’ 

The judge reassured Owens he would look into the issue during a court recess, noting he was aware of his previous complaints on the matter and that he ‘recognized it as a problem.’ 

The lawyer then doubled down saying: ‘And I wanna be advised if there are new changes because it’s just by chance that we see that there’s a camera directly pointed at her which is contrary to the decorum order.

‘So I don’t want changes without reporters telling you.’ 

‘I think that’s a reasonable request,’ Judge Holmberg replied.    

Sanderson, meanwhile, has managed to avoid the spotlight Wednesday, dipping in and out of the courtroom and at times sitting in the media overflow room.

During civil cases, plaintiffs are not always required to be in the room for proceedings. 

Before testimony could begin Wednesday, Paltrow's lawyer complained of a new camera location pointing directly at the actress, saying it violates decorum

Before testimony could begin Wednesday, Paltrow’s lawyer complained of a new camera location pointing directly at the actress, saying it violates decorum

The actress-turned-lifestyle influencer, whose outfit was similar to yesterday's, sat alongside her legal team silently as the proceedings got underway

The actress-turned-lifestyle influencer, whose outfit was similar to yesterday’s, sat alongside her legal team silently as the proceedings got underway 

Looking like she means business and dressed in a khaki coat, cream belted cardigan, tan corduroy pants, and gold bracelets, Paltrow was back in court in Park City, Utah, Wednesday for the second day of her trial over a 2016 ski crash.

Paltrow appeared upbeat and greeted photographers as she arrived at the courthouse wearing a nearly identical outfit as yesterday. 

She could potentially take the stand today, with attorneys for Sanderson saying they will call the actress if time permits.

Speaking to DailyMail.com ahead of proceedings, Sanderson said he was feeling confident and was looking forward to seeing the day play out. 

During a dramatic day of testimony on Tuesday, the prosecution’s star witness Craig Ramon, 48, told the court he had seen Paltrow ‘slam’ into his friend Sanderson before ‘bolting’ away down the mountain.

He added: ‘We were skiing down the run and then I heard this scream. I looked over and I see this skier just slam into the back of Terry.

‘She slammed him. Very hard. She hit him directly in the back. The tips of his skis go out and he goes face down, spread eagled, with Gwyneth on top of him. There was about a second or two.

‘Terry stops, then Gwyneth slid down to the right side. She bounced off of him.’

The Oscar-winner has claimed she did not hit Sanderson and was instead, the victim of the crash.

During his opening statement, Paltrow’s lawyer Stephen Owens said the star was left bruised and upset by the smash – and screaming ‘what the f***?’ at Sanderson.

But Ramon said she did not say a word following the smash and moved away shortly after getting up – eventually ‘bolting’ down Bandana Mountain.

He also admitted that he did not recognize Paltrow herself and only realized who she was when ski guide Eric Christensen arrived and told him: ‘Your buddy just took out Gwyneth Paltrow!’

He said: ‘When I got there, I was asking Terry, are you ok? His face was down in the snow and he wasn’t moving. 

Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured in court yesterday) could take the stand today in a trial about a 2016 ski crash between the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer and the retired optometrist suing her and claiming her recklessness left him with lasting injuries and brain damage

Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured in court yesterday) could take the stand today in a trial about a 2016 ski crash between the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer and the retired optometrist suing her and claiming her recklessness left him with lasting injuries and brain damage

The trial over the incident at Deer Valley Resort began Monday at Park City District Court

The trial over the incident at Deer Valley Resort began Monday at Park City District Court

‘Then Gwyneth gets up and I was asking her if she was ok. I asked if she was ok and she just looked at me. She was standing up, she got up pretty quick.’

Ramon said she was followed down the slope by son Moses, 16, and husband Brad Falchuk, 52, both of whom are due to testify later in the trial.

He said: ‘I was going to go down and check on her and then she bolts – just goes straight down. There’s a guy and a kid with Gwyneth and they stop above Terry – about 20 to 25ft up.

‘Then the adult comes by just giving me a dirty look and then they both took off after Gwyneth.’

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’

Ramon described how Sanderson was left unresponsive following the crash but said Paltrow made no effort to check on him, get help or exchange contact details.

When he did come around, Ramone said he attempted to get Sanderson off the mountain but said the experienced skier was unable to perform even the most basic maneuvers – forcing them to call Ski Patrol for help.

Lawrence Buhler, the lead attorney for Sanderson, opened the trial by telling the jury: ‘Distracted skiers cause crashes. Defendant Gwyneth Paltrow knew that looking up the mountain and up to the side was dangerous.

‘She knew that if she continued to ski that way, if she kept looking up to the side, someone would get seriously hurt. She knew what she was doing was dangerous and she knew it was reckless.’

He added that his client suffered four broken ribs and permanent brain damage following the smash before going on to outline the rules of skiing, including that those taking part in the sport should always yield the right of way to those below and keep their eyes forward.

Sanderson, 76, sued the Oscar-winning actress in January 2019 and alleged she crashed into the back of him and abandoned the scene of the beginner’s run at the exclusive Deer Valley resort in Utah on February 26, 2016.

The retired optometrist sought damages in excess of $3.1 million after the accident left him with a ‘permanent traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement’. 

Paltrow, her husband Brad Falchuk and children Apple, 18, and Moses, 16, are set to testify during her 2016 ski crash trial

Paltrow, her husband Brad Falchuk and children Apple, 18, and Moses, 16, are set to testify during her 2016 ski crash trial

Paltrow, her husband Brad Falchuk and children Apple, 18, and Moses, 16, are set to testify during her 2016 ski crash trial

However, a judge dismissed his original claim and he is now suing Paltrow for $300,000. Paltrow subsequently filed a counterclaim for $1 and attorney fees.

Today, in the second day of their trial, Sanderson’s lawyers said they expected to call four witnesses, including Wendell Gibby and Sam Goldstein – a radiologist and neuropsychologist – to testify.

They left the possibility that one could be Paltrow, depending on when others expected to testify arrive in Park City. 

During the opening day of the trial yesterday, the court heard that Sanderson had reportedly messaged his daughters following the incident saying ‘I’m famous’.

Paltrow’s attorney Steve Owens showed the jury an email reportedly sent by Sanderson to his daughters after the collision that included a link to a Facebook status that said ‘I’m famous!’

‘He doesn’t post ‘I’m hurt’, he doesn’t post confusing stuff,’ Owens told the court. ‘Gwyneth was hurt by Mr Sanderson’s negligence…she is upset. 

‘Anyone sustaining a blow is upset, she is sore, she never went to a doctor…but it rattled here and it physically hurt her.’

He said that Paltrow had told her daughter that ‘some a-hole’ had run into her and had been ‘mad’ later opting to finish skiing for the day.

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