Gwyneth Vs Terry: The Ski Crasy

Park City, Utah

Park City, Utah sits in the Wasatch Mountains and is a place known around the world as a destination for outdoor adventures.  It is a city with a mountain town charm where you can ski, snowboard, hike, mountain bike, fish, or golf.  The main attraction and source of revenue is skiing.  Most everyone in the city has a job that revolves around skiing.  

Park City is also home to the Sundance Film Festival that occurs every year in late January.  Sundance is the largest independent film festival in the United States as well as one of the largest in the world.  If you’re like Tori, you’ll also know that Park City is home to some of the women from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and Lisa Barlow, is a big part of  Sundance where there will never be a shortage of Vida Tequila!  There is no shortage of new restaurants and bars to try in Park City with over 100 dining options. 

As stated earlier, Park City is known for skiing.  One of the most exclusive ski resorts in Park City is the Deer Valley Resort.  For a day pass in April of 2024, for an adult it would cost anywhere from $169-$209.  Private ski lessons range from $220-$240, depending on which part of the season you’re in for an hour-long lesson for an introduction to skiing.  A three hour private lesson can range from $840-$950 depending on time of day/time of season.  A full day private lesson ranges from $1,250-$1,470.  At the time of the ski crash we will be discussing, Gwyneth Paltrow was at the resort with her boyfriend, Brad, her two children, and his two children.  She paid approximately $9,000 for ski lessons for her two kids.  All this to say, this isn’t a ski resort that any Tom, Dick, and Harry can afford.  Which I think is an important factor in this case. 

What Happened?

Terry Sanderson and Gwyneth Paltrow were skiing at the Deer Valley Resort on February 26, 2016.  They were on a beginner’s course called the Bandana Run on the slopes of Flagstaff Mountain.  At about 11:55 am, Gwyneth (can we call her Gwyneth?) and Terry collided.

After the collision, both parties dealt with some form of injury in the aftermath, however, nothing more was said or came of the collision outside of their personal lives.  That is until 2019, when Terry Sanderson sued Gwyneth Paltrow for the injuries he sustained, three years after the collision, for just over $300,000, though the initial filing was for $3.1 million.  When asked why he was now suing, Terry claimed it was because he couldn’t reach an agreement with her lawyers.  Paltrow countersued for $1 as well as for her legal expenses to be reimbursed.  Paltrow stated that the lawsuit was “a meritless claim” as well as “an attempt to exploit her celebrity and wealth.”  She insisted that she remembered the incident “very clearly.” 

Terry Sanderson

Terry Sanderson is a retired optometrist who had been skiing for thirty years at the time of the accident.  Terry was born on June 24, 1946 in Fairview, Montana.  He studied optometry at North Montana College and later received his Bachelor’s degree of Arts in Zoology with pre-med options at the University of Montana and a Doctor of Optometry – Vision Care degree from Pacific University.   After finishing his studies, Terry served as a captain in the United States Army for three years. 

After his military service, Terry established his own private practice in Soda Springs, Idaho as an optometrist.  Terry was also a private practice consultant where he helped healthcare practices with their business strategies, financial management, operational efficiency, compliance, and risk management.  

Terry married Tana Cushman on June 14, 1970, and the couple had three daughters together, Shae, Polly, and Jenny.  Terry and Tana eventually divorced and at the time of the accident, Terry was dating a woman named Karlene Davidson.  Though, about six months after the accident and before the trial, the two broke up. 

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Kate Paltrow Falchuk was born on September 7, 1972 in Los Angeles, California to parents Blythe Danner, an actress, and Bruce Paltrow, a film producer and director.  She has a younger brother named Jake who is both a film director and screenwriter. 

Gwyneth Paltrow is an American actress who began her career in the movie High in 1989.  It was a TV film that her father directed.  After that, she was cast in a musical, more made-for-TV films, and then in 1995 she played the wife of Brad Pitt in Se7en (WHAT’S IN THE BOX?).   Her career only took off from there and her top four “known for” films on IMDB are Shakespeare In Love, Sliding Doors, Emma, and Iron Man 3.  Shout out Pepper Potts.  

After several more years of acting, Gwyneth announced in 2017, that she was taking a break from acting to focus on her business, Goop.  She played a few roles since then, but is mainly focusing on her business and her family. 

Goop was founded in 2008 in Gwyneth’s kitchen as a homespun weekly newsletter, according to the Goop website.  The website states, “We operate from a place of curiosity and non judgment, and we start hard conversations, crack open taboos, and look for connection and resonance everywhere we can find it.  We don’t mind being the tip of the spear – in short, we go first so you don’t have to.” You can discuss and shop beauty products, skin care, fashion, wellness products they make themselves, and there is even a sex shop.  There is also a The Goop Podcast, shared recipes, and travel tips.  There are also brick-and-mortar stores in LA, Montecito, Sag Harbor, and Mauna Lani. 

In 2002, Gwyneth met Chris Martin, from Coldplay.  The two began a relationship and married in December of 2003.  At the time of their wedding, she was pregnant with the couple’s first child.  Apple was born in 2004 and two years later in 2006, their son, Moses, was born.  In 2014, the couple announced their divorce.  

Later that year, she began dating Brad Falchuk, a producer who she met on the set of Glee in 2010 and went public with their relationship in 2015.   The two announced their engagement on January 8, 2018, and were married on September 29th of that year. 

In 2013, Gwyneth was voted Hollywood’s Most Hated Celebrity in the world by Star Magazine while simultaneously being voted the World’s Most Beautiful Woman by People Magazine. 

The Trial

In January of 2019, when Terry filed the lawsuit against Gwyneth Paltrow, he initially filed for damages in the amount of $3.1 million.  Terry’s lawyer in this case was Bob Sykes of Sykes McAllister Law Offices out of Salt Lake City, Utah as well as attorney Lawrence Buhler.  The suit was not only against Gwyneth Paltrow, but also Eric Christiansen, a ski instructor for Deer Valley, Deer Valley Resort Company, and two unnamed employees of the resort.  

In his filing, Terry claimed that Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit him in the back, while he was downhill.  He states that she knocked him down hard, knocked him out, and caused a brain injury and four broken ribs among other serious injuries.  He said that she then got up, turned and skied away, leaving him seriously injured and stunned lying in the snow.  He stated that Eric Christiansen, a ski instructor, didn’t see the crash, but skied over after, saw him on the ground, then skied off and falsely accused Terry of causing the collision.  According to Terry, Eric also failed to send help – as he was obligated to do – and later filed a false report to protect Paltrow.

The lawsuit states that neither Gwyneth Paltrow nor the resort’s employees notified emergency responders about his injuries.  He claimed that these negligent actions caused additional emotional distress to his injuries.  

In February of 2019, the complaint was amended and Terry changed the value from $3.1 million to $300,000.  A month after the original lawsuit was filed, Gwyneth countersued for $1 for “symbolic damages.”

The trial began on March 21, 2023 in Park City, Utah.  Judge Kent Holmburg approved cameras being allowed in the courtroom and the trial was live streamed.  This trial was to determine who hit whom, did they cause damages, what were those damages, and who was uphill and who was downhill.  Stephen Owens represented Gwyneth Paltrow in this trial.

First, we will discuss Terry Sanderson’s side of the story and what happened during the plaintiff’s testimonies at trial.  Lawrence Buhler began his opening statement on behalf of Terry by saying that Gwyneth Paltrow was not looking in front of her as she was skiing downhill and that she was actually looking at her children.  He said the only eyewitness to the crash was Terry’s friend, Craig Ramon.

Craig Ramon was the first witness to testify for the plaintiff.  He said that he was in a group with Terry and was “skiing down the run” when he heard a scream.  He looked over and saw that a skier had run into the back of Terry.  He stated that Paltrow had hit Terry “hard” and bounced off of him.  When he reached the pair on the ground, Paltrow got up and did not answer whether or not she was okay, he said.  

Ramon also testified that an instructor came over to the group and yelled at Terry, who he stated was facedown in the snow.  According to Ramon, Paltrow left the scene approximately three or four minutes after the crash without stating who she was or asking if anyone needed help.  He said that Terry was out of it and had been complaining about his ribs.  The ski instructor then “yanked” Terry off the ground and left per his testimony. 

Terry’s daughter, Polly, testified and said that her father used to be a “goer” but is now easily frustrated and struggles cognitively.  She stated that he now gets caught up on details and “can’t see the forest through the trees.”  Terry’s youngest daughter, Jenny, didn’t testify at trial, but it was stated in her deposition that she had a troubled relationship with her father.  When Polly was asked if it was true that Jenny didn’t speak to their father for thirteen years, she testified that it wasn’t true.  

Karlene Davidson, Terry’s ex-girlfriend, was quite upset that they used Terry’s daughters against him, or attempted to at trial.  She was interviewed in the Gwyneth vs Terry: The Ski Crash Trial documentary and said that when Terry arrived home after the accident, he told her that he had been hit on the hill, but didn’t state that it was Gwyneth Paltrow.  She also testified at the trial and said that Terry became like an old man after the collision.  Prior to the accident, he was very easygoing, liked people, and was very kind.  He traveled, volunteered, and attended many events.  He spent time with her family and she with his family.  

She was asked if she skied, but she could no longer ski due to a knee injury, but it was Terry’s favorite winter activity.  The day of the accident, she said that he looked like a truck had hit him, that he was disheveled, and looked like he didn’t feel well at all.  She testified that he didn’t really want to discuss what had happened and he was cranky.   She tried to encourage him to go to the doctor, because he knew his ribs were broken.  But he refused to go until the next day.

She said that after the accident he no longer wanted to do anything, his joy was gone, he was less energetic, and less connected.  He eventually pushed her away and they broke up.  It was about six months after the accident.  

When questioned by the defense, she stated that it is possible that Terry hid medical conditions from her prior to the accident.  Not necessarily on purpose, but it was possible.  She testified that the only thing she knew about what happened was that Terry lost consciousness and all she knew of the accident was from what Craig Ramon had said.  

Terry’s attorneys also had a few medical professionals testify in regard to Terry’s medical condition after the accident.  Dr. Alina Fong treated Terry following the collision.  Terry first went to Dr. Fong in 2017 and she stated that he was desperate to get better.  She testified that he did have a concussion after the crash and it resulted in an MTBI, a traumatic brain injury.  His MRI results, according to Dr. Fong showed a definite abnormality in the way Terry’s brain was firing.  Dr. Fong explained on the stand that Terry’s concussion caused ongoing problems such as having issues with cognitive functions. 

According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, a traumatic brain injury is the result from a violent blow or jolt to the head or the body.  If an object goes through the brain tissue, like a bullet or shattered piece of the skull, traumatic brain injury can also be caused.  A mild TBI can affect brain cells temporarily and more serious TBIs can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, and/or other physical damage to the brain.  These injuries can result in long-term complications or death. 

As Dr. Fong continued with her testimony, she stated that she found no evidence that Terry was faking his symptoms and that he was an ideal patient.  She said that Terry was an intelligent man that didn’t want to be injured and was willing to do whatever it took to change where he was at.  

Dr. Fong testified that she encouraged Terry to get back to doing the things that he loved, such as traveling.  However, she did advise that he didn’t travel alone because he had issues with both his memory and some issues with problem solving.  

Then they called Dr. Wendell Gibby, a neuro-radiologist specialist, who did an analysis of Terry’s X-rays.  He testified that it was very unlikely that his injuries would have been caused by him running into Gwyneth Paltrow.  He stated that the X-rays showed that his injuries were consistent with the statement that Gwyneth hit Terry in the back at a high speed impact.  

Dr. Samuel Goldstein,  a neuropsychologist, also testified and said that Terry’s post-crash trajectory was an “acute rapid downturn.”  He told the court that without that accident, the life he was living prior to it, would still be the life he is living now.  He encouraged the jurors to use their common sense rather than get bogged down in questions about the white matter beneath the brain’s cortex.

Next, Terry Sanderson took the stand.  First, he spoke about the type of skier he was.  He stated he was an advanced/intermediate skier (so, like, are you advanced or nah?) and there weren’t many places he wouldn’t go.  He skied 2-3 times a week for over thirty years during the winter season.  He had never been in another ski accident besides with Gwyneth Paltrow.  He also learned to ski with family friends who were part of ski patrol and considered himself a good skier.  

The day of the accident was the first time he skied at Deer Valley.  That day, he was skiing with a “meet-up group.”  Terry’s group was advised to stay on the edges of the Bandana run, which is a green run, in order to avoid all of the people in the middle of the run.  He also agreed that staying on the right side was likely due to his vision issues in his right eye.  For anyone who doesn’t particularly care for winter sports, such as myself, though I’ve done it, green runs are generally the easiest aside from the bunny hill.

Terry said that as he got off the ski lift, he headed toward the right side of the hill.  He said he looked over the hill, and didn’t see anyone.  He said he was making “nice, soft turns.”  He was skiing easy, paying attention, and then all of sudden in front of him were two big signs that said, “Slow down.”  He backed off what he was doing and then again saw another slow down sign and backed off again.  He continued on the run and saw a curve and saw it was wide open with nothing in front of him.  He went around the corner and remembers hearing something he never heard at a ski resort before – a blood-curdling scream.  Then boom!  “It was like somebody was out of control,” he said. 

In his mind, it was like someone was out of control and hit a tree.  After hearing the scream, he said he got hit so hard in his back that the fists of the person behind him and their poles were right beneath his shoulder blades.  He said he only saw snow in front of him, but he had no control and felt like he was flying.  He says that it’s quite a way to fall to hit the ground and remembers thinking that he needed to protect his face.  

According to Terry, he absolutely would not know if the person who hit him landed on top of him.  He also doesn’t remember hitting his head, just his arms collapsing.  The next thing he remembers is his subconscious telling him to pay attention and that someone, a man, was really angry at him.  He tried to move, but couldn’t move any part of his body.  Then things became more clear and the man was telling him that he wasn’t following the rules and hit somebody, but he didn’t know who the man was.  The man continued yelling at him, and by the third time he went through what happened, Terry was finally able to start moving.  He was able to move his skis and he remembers saying, “I’m sorry,” twice, even though no sound was coming out – in his mind.  He claims he was not apologizing for causing the accident, but trying to placate the man yelling at him. 

Craig Ramon was by him after he had fallen, and he asked Terry if he was okay.  He said that his ribs were sore and told Craig that his vision was blurred with sparks, his brain felt like he was on Novocain, and his ears were buzzing.  Craig asked if he knew who he was and he did.  Then when asked if he knew where he was, he said that he knew he was skiing, but didn’t know where.  

Terry then testified that he realized that he was getting cold and that he needed to get up, so he started sliding his skis and legs around.  Then a man showed up in front of him and helped him up to his feet.  Then the guy took off after helping him up.  It was determined that the man who allegedly yelled at him and “yanked” him to his feet was Eric Christiansen.  Then Terry and Craig tried to ski down, but didn’t get very far.  Then Craig went to find help while Terry waited on the run.  

When help arrived, Terry was taken down the hill on a toboggan.  Whitney, from the ski patrol, asked him to remember a few things that she would ask him later, as a brain test, he said.  When asked later, and on the stand, he remembered all the things she had told him.  Once off the hill, Terry received no medical treatment at the Deer Valley resort, but went to InstaCare after leaving.  

Terry learned that it was Gwyneth Paltrow who he had crashed with when the people in his group came to check on him.  Craig Ramon was the person who told him.  This comes as no surprise to me, dude seems like the attention seeking type, but I digress.  He testified that he didn’t think it was cool that he crashed with a celebrity, but when asked if he ever said that, he said that he needed to tell his kids and that he may have said he was famous “or something.”  

Then they discuss the email Terry sent to his daughters and the subject line was, “I’m famous.”  When asked why he wrote this, he said that his head was scrambled and he wanted to communicate with his daughters before someone else did.  He was trying to add “levity” to a serious situation.  He wrote that he told them what happened per Craig’s story and attached a link.  The link was a photo of Whitney Smith from the ski patrol.  Then there are comments between him and Craig on the photo.  

Shae responded and changed the subject line to, “I’m famous, but at what cost?”  Terry said that she told Shae on the phone about his injuries and said that there had to be some form of GoPro video of the accident and they needed to find it for evidence.  He says that Shae misinterpreted that conversation and that was why she changed the subject line.  As a note, nobody has come forward with any GoPro footage from that day.  Terry also testified that he does have a GoPro, but did not bring it to Deer Valley that day. 

Terry testified that the injuries he received were at least four broken ribs, a concussion, and later had some right leg anomalies.  He said that it’s like he is living another life now because of these injuries.  He can’t ski anymore because if he did and had another crash, he could end up in a nursing home.  For reference, he is in his 70’s and I believe 76 at the time of the trial.  Though, he did try to ski at one point after, to see if he still could, but it didn’t go well, and gave it up after three or four times.  Since the collision, he said that he is much more careful and doesn’t take risks.  

At the time of the trial, he stated he didn’t have many physical restrictions.  However, mentally, he struggles with words and has big gaps when trying to talk about something.  He said his communication is “upside down and backwards.”  He says he just knows his personality is different and he now gets lost and he used to be able to visually remember places he had been before.  Terry testified that his interactions with his family have been more difficult since the accident.  He says that something is wrong with his essence and his communication has not been as smooth.  

One of the tactics that Terry’s attorneys used at trial was to speak about prior cases of Gwyneth Paltrow being accident prone.  They talked about a time when she was on Jimmy Kimmel where she talked about being accident prone.  They also showed a video of her “almost crashing” into a school bus as she pulled onto the street on a scooter.  They were attempting to show a pattern of careless behavior on her part. 

Terry’s attorneys finally called Gwyneth Paltrow to the stand.  Now, we will go through her testimony, her side of the story, and who her defense team called to the stand as witnesses. 

First, we’ll go through Gwyneth’s testimony.  They skipped the background of who she was and went right into her skiing background because as Kristin Vanorman, one the attorneys for the plaintiff, stated, everyone knows who Gwyneth Paltrow is.  Gwyneth said that she is an intermediate skier who generally skis on the blue diamond runs.  They discussed the rules of skiing – skiing safely, with common sense, and to always give the downhill skier the right of way.  

Gwyneth testified that she had been to Deer Valley twice before the day of the incident and that the day of the incident was the first day of that current trip.  She was there with her children, Apple and Moses, her then boyfriend, now husband, Brad Falchuk, and his two kids, Isabella and Brody.  She was asked if she only didn’t engage in “risky” skiing behavior because her kids were there, and she said that she wouldn’t with or without her kids present.  

She was asked to recall if her kids asked her to watch them while they skied, by saying something like, “Mommy, Mommy, watch me!”  She said that she couldn’t recall them doing that on that particular day or really since they were about four or five years old.  At the time of the incident, Apple was eleven, and Moses was nine.  

They read from the 2020 deposition where Gwyneth stated that she can watch her children ski while being hit in the back by another skier.  The attorney was really trying to drive in the point that Gwyneth wasn’t looking ahead but instead over at her son who was to the left and behind her, however, that is not what Gwyneth said.  She said that she was skiing and looking ahead of her when Terry hit her in the back. 

Kristin Vanorman from Terry’s team went through what Gwyneth said during the deposition in regard to the actual collision.  Gwyneth confirmed that she was skiing along at a relatively slow pace when she heard a rustling behind her.  Then, she says, two skis came in between her skis and she felt a large body pressed up against her back.  She froze and was confused, then became upset.  

In the deposition she stated that she wasn’t sure if it was an intentional assault of a sexual nature.  Vanorman asked her if the man behind her was grinding or thrusting and wanted to know what made her think it was a sexual assault.  Gwyneth said that it was a quick thought that went into her head when she was trying to reconcile what was happening when two skis went between hers, forcing her legs to separate, and hearing weird noises behind her.  She clarified that she did not believe it was actually a sexual assault. 

After they collided, they continued skiing down the hill, went to the right, then crashed.  When they landed, Gwyneth fell on top of Terry, their legs and skis were tangled up and they were almost spooning, according to Gwyneth’s testimony.  She says that she was then able to move away.  Then the attorney did her best to act out what had happened in the courtroom and this was an entire fucking shit show and honestly a huge waste of time – if you ask me.  Which you did not.  

After they hit the ground, Gwyneth testified that she remembers asking him, “What are you doing?”  He said that she skied into him and she said back, “You skied into my fucking back.”  Then Terry apologized a couple of times while still on the ground.  Then Eric Christiansen came over, who was Moses’ instructor for the day.   Then Eric helped Terry stand up and asked him if he was okay.  Gwyneth was just a little ways away at that point, but still near them.  She then said that Eric told her that he would handle filling out the report for her and told her she was okay to leave.  Gwyneth agreed that Eric didn’t see the collision, just saw them on the ground afterwards.  She also testified that she did not believe Craig Ramon’s testimony because of the distance away that he was (approximately 40ft), he was colorblind, and changed his story more than once. 

Gwyneth testified that she only learned of Terry’s injuries through the court proceedings.  She said that she did not ask how Terry was that day or the subsequent days after.  She believed that it was a minor accident.  She also stated that when you are not the person who caused the accident, you aren’t always concerned about the other person involved.

After she skied down the hill after the accident, she had lunch with her family.  Then her knee and back were bothering her so she went in early and then got a massage, but never had to seek medical treatment after the collision.  

Next, Gwyneth testified that it was unfair of Terry Sanderson to bring this lawsuit against her.  When asked about her countersue of $1 in symbolic damages, she said it was symbolic because the damages would actually be more.  They discussed if she did this because of Taylor Swift’s symbolic $1 suit and it was a whole lot of nonsense.   Vanorman was trying to drive home that Gwyneth and Taylor were friends so she likely copied what the singer had done. 

For those of you who don’t know, David Mueller, a former DJ, filed a lawsuit against Taylor Swift.  Mueller alleged that after she stated that he reached up her skirt and grabbed her butt, without her permission, she had him wrongfully terminated.  He filed a defamation suit against her claiming that he had never touched her underneath her skirt.  In his lawsuit, he sought about $3 million in lost income and said that he had been earning approximately $150,000 a year at KYGO.  He stated that it was a different KYGO employee, Herschel Coomer, who had assaulted her, and that it was a case of mistaken identity.  Taylor countersued for battery and sexual assault and was seeking $1 in symbolic damages.  The trial lasted a week and went in Taylor Swift’s favor.  About four months after the verdict, Mueller finally paid his debt by mailing a Sacajawea coin to her in a letter.  There was a report that Mueller had previously stated he was going to pay with the Sacajawea coin as “a final jab at the singer in a case her side called a win for all women.”  He paid her a day after she was featured in Time magazine as one the “silence breakers” that were collectively recognized as their person of the year.  In that story she stated that  she had not yet received her dollar and stated, “That act of defiance is symbolic in itself.”  

Gwyneth was also asked about asking for an attorney’s fee and she said that the dollar was for her, and her attorneys would receive the fees.  Vanorman was trying to make it seem like despite Gwyneth only asking for $1, she was really asking for thousands in attorney fees.  Gwyneth made it quite clear, she wanted $1, her attorneys would be reimbursed and she wouldn’t see that money. 

She testified that she felt very sorry for Terry and his troubles, but she did not cause the accident.  She testified that she wore a helmet and goggles at the time of the collision as well as after hitting the ground despite Craig Ramon stating that she wasn’t.  She said wearing them is primarily for safety, but also anonymity on the slopes.

Gwyneth testified that after her father’s death, she quit skiing because it was something special she did with him.  However, once she had her own kids, she decided to take up skiing again to share that with her kids.  

She also testified that this was a significant trip for her and Brad because it was the first time they were introducing their kids to each other.  They were trying to determine if they could blend their families.  When asked if this distracted her, she said it did not and she was paying attention to the space in front of her while skiing down Bandana that day. 

Gwyneth was asked about a text exchange between her and Eric Christiansen where they discussed where they should ski throughout the morning.  Then at 2:29 pm, Eric asked where she was for Moses and she replied that the guy that had hit her had kind of hurt her and she was getting a massage.  She told him that Moses could come in if he would like.  

Gwyneth testified that despite Craig Ramon’s testimony that Terry was unconscious for “minutes,” he was only out for possibly a split second.  She was asked if she was being aggressive when she was skiing down Bandana.  She said that she was skiing toward the side and making regular turns.  She wouldn’t ski aggressively because there were several families on the hill as this was a green run.  

Gwyneth testified that when Terry ran into her, her right knee felt like it was overstretched and her back hurt.  She got a massage after the collision, but did not seek medical care. 

As her testimony was closing out, they showed Eric Christiansen’s report from the day of the incident and he wrote that Terry ran into her, he didn’t see it, but came over after, and Gwyneth confirmed that this was true.  Additional comments on the report from Terry stated that she appeared in front of him, which would make him the uphill skier.  

Gwyneth also apologized several times during her testimony for swearing and raising her voice at Terry.  She wanted to make it clear that she didn’t normally behave that way.  It was especially important while Terry’s attorney was questioning her to drive home that this is not her normal behavior.  

During Eric Christiansen’s testimony, he stated that it was up to them, as ski instructors, to determine if it was prudent or not to write a report when an incident occurs with no injuries, and on that particular day, he determined that it was.  When asked if he was involved in a cover up of Gwyneth Paltrow’s reckless skiing, he said that he was not and agreed that it was ridiculous and offensive.  He also testified that Moses did not yell for Gwyneth to watch him despite other testimony saying that he had.  Eric stated that it did not happen and he knew this for certain because he was standing next to Moses.  According to Eric’s testimony, Terry was the uphill skier.

Eric also testified that when ski patrol came by in the aftermath of the incident, Terry and Craig were speaking to each other and when patrol asked if they needed assistance, they both replied that they did not. 

The defense also called several different doctors in to testify about Terry Sanderson’s alleged injuries due to the collision.  Dr. Robert Hoesh, a neurologist, testified that Terry suffered a minor head injury.  He said that it fell in the most mild category of concussion.  Angela Eastvold, a neuropsychologist, testified that there were no clear signs of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or any double or blurring vision.  Dr. Carl Black, a neuroradiologist, stated that there is no evidence of post-traumatic brain injury.  Dr. Galit Askenazi, a specialist in neuropsychology and neuro forensics, says that it’s questionable that Terry Sanderson even had a concussion.  

When the defense cross-examined Terry, they brought up photos from his personal Facebook page in the years after the ski crash.  They showed photos of him skiing the year after the collision – 2017.  They showed photos of him in other countries where he seemed to be happy and enjoying himself, photos of him riding bikes, and photos of him rafting.  This was a strategic move to show that despite the testimony that he was now a changed person who no longer enjoyed life and had limited functions, he still was able to seemingly do all the things that he previously had and loved to do. 

The defense also called Dr. Irving Scher, a principal and biomechanical engineer to testify.  He was hired to teach the jury about the biomechanics of snow sports – particularly, skiing.  Dr. Scher created an animation, which is a demonstrative exhibit to show what likely happened on the ski hill that day.  It was made clear to the jury that this was not actual footage of what had transpired that day, but was an accurate description of what Gwyneth Paltrow said the events of the day were. 

After eight days of testimony, the jury was sent to deliberate.  They had the following options: Was Gwyneth Paltrow liable? Or was Terry Sanderson liable?  They first had to determine who was at fault and then they had to decide what percentage of fault they held.  They deliberated for approximately two hours before coming back with a decision.  They determined that no, Gwyneth Paltrow was not at fault, but yes, Terry Sanderson was.  They determined that he was 100% at fault. 

In the Gwyneth vs Terry documentary, one of the jurors, Samantha Imrie, stated that the vacation photos the defense presented were kind of the nail in the coffin for them.  She said that they were all pretty much on the same page the minute they began their discussion.  

The Aftermath

When the trial ended, as Gwyneth was leaving the courtroom, she walked over to Terry, whispered something, then left.  When he made his way outside, he told the media that she said to him, “I wish you well,” and he replied, “Thank you, dear.”  He also stated that it was very kind of her. 

Once the trial was over, he told the media that he no longer thought that the case was worth it because of the exposure that his daughters and ex-girlfriend had to deal with.  Not to mention, himself and his own life.  

In a statement, Gwyneth Paltrow said, “I felt that acquiescing to a false claim compromised my integrity.  I am pleased with the outcome and I appreciate all of the hard work of Judge Holmberg and the jury, and thank them for their thoughtfulness in handling this case.” 

In the documentary, Dr. Fong stated that she was very disappointed that the vacation photos were something that was used against him at the trial when it was something that was a big part of his recovery.  

Samantha Imrie spoke with ABC News after the trial and said, “It’s important that the public doesn’t just think that this was a win because Gwyneth’s a celebrity.  I think there was, in the back of my mind, yes, this woman’s an actress and I took that into account, but I didn’t feel she had a reason to lie under oath.  She’s always in the spotlight so she always has to be honest.  [Sanderson] was telling his truth, and I think, unfortunately, some of that has been distorted due to some other factors.  But I do think he did not intend to tell a truth that wasn’t his truth.” 

According to an article on theguardian.com, Robert Sykes, Terry’s attorney, made a statement shortly after the trial ended that they were exploring their remaining legal options.  Those options included potentially asking a higher Utah state court to consider overturning the verdict.  Sykes also stated that Terry Sanderson asked the public to respect his privacy as he determined how he was going to move forward. 

On April 29, 2023, Gwyneth Paltrow waived Terry’s liability to pay her legal fees and in response, he agreed not to appeal.