CNN
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The trial over a 2016 snowboarding accident involving Gwyneth Paltrow started on Tuesday.
The actress and businesswoman was current in the Park City, Utah, courtroom as a jury was seated and opening statements started in the case. Terry Sanderson, 76, has accused Paltrow of crashing into him and inflicting him critical accidents whereas they had been each snowboarding on a Utah mountain in February of 2016.
In the court paperwork initially filed by Sanderson and obtained by CNN in 2019, Sanderson acknowledged that whereas snowboarding at Deer Valley Resort, Paltrow allegedly “skied out of control … knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, and four broken ribs and other serious injuries.”
Sanderson additionally claims Paltrow and her ski teacher skied away after the incident with out getting him medical care.
Paltrow filed a countersuit against Sanderson, a retired optometrist, claiming that he skied into her.
According to Paltrow’s countersuit, she “was enjoying skiing with her family on vacation in Utah, when Plaintiff – who was uphill from Ms. Paltrow – plowed into her back. 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.”
Sanderson had initially sued Paltrow for $3.1 million {dollars}, however later amended his criticism and is now searching for greater than $300,000 in damages, based on court paperwork.
Paltrow is searching for $1 in damages, plus attorneys’ charges.
The choose provided directions Tuesday to the eight-person jury and the attorneys for both sides launched themselves to the court earlier than opening statements by one in every of Sanderson’s attorneys, Lawrence Buhler, adopted by Paltrow’s legal professional, Steve Owens.
Owens reiterated Paltrow’s declare that she was downhill from Sanderson earlier than the collision occurred.
The trial is anticipated to final about one week. It isn’t but recognized if Paltrow will take the stand, however her legal professional advised the jury they’d hear from members of the family who had been snowboarding along with her on the time of the incident.
CNN has contacted a consultant for Paltrow for remark.