Gwyneth Paltrow: Jury hears ski crash left man as ‘self-imposed recluse’

Man suing Oscar-winning actress claims crash caused breakdown of his mental health and relationships

Gwyneth Paltrow sits in court during an objection by her attorney during her trial. AP

Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski slope collision left a man living as a “self-imposed recluse”, a US court has heard.

Terry Sanderson said he was “living another life” following the incident which left him with broken ribs and brain injuries.

Retired optometrist Mr Sanderson is suing the Oscar-winning actress over the collision at the Deer Valley resort in Utah in 2016, alleging she fell on top of him, leaving him with several broken ribs and a severe concussion.

Ms Paltrow has denied the allegations, claiming Mr Sanderson collided with her, and is counter-suing him.

Mr Sanderson said he had been told he should not ski again following the crash, which had caused the breakdown of his mental health and relationships.

Terry Sanderson, the Utah man suing Gwyneth Paltrow, testifies in court, on Monday, March 27, 2023, in Park City, Utah. AP

Giving evidence on Monday, he took a moment to collect himself before describing the incident, saying remembering what happened “takes my breath away”.

He said: “Everything was great and then I heard nothing I’ve heard before at a ski resort – it was a blood-curdling scream.

“It was like someone was out of control and was going to hit a tree and die. Someone is out of control and they’re really seriously out of control.”

He added: “I got hit in my back so hard… it felt like a serious, serious smack. I’ve never been hit that hard and I’m flying."

Mr Sanderson said the next thing he remembered after the collision was a “very angry” male voice, which was later claimed to be Deer Valley ski instructor Eric Christiansen.

“Everything is still black, like I’m unconscious, but it’s like my subconscious is going into protection mode… all I could recognise is that someone was very angry with me, it was a man,” he said.

“I couldn’t hear what he was saying but he was mad. I’m feeling a little afraid, I tried to move and I couldn’t move a limb.”

Mr Sanderson said the male voice was “insistent” he was the “bad guy” in the situation and been trying to “bully” him.

He added he had tried to mouth “I’m sorry” to “placate this man in the only defensive manner I could” and that he had not heard any other voices.

“There was one voice that my brain was focused on… I only heard a male voice, a mad, angry, male voice,” he said.

Mr Christiansen later told the court it was a “ridiculous” claim he had been hostile towards Mr Sanderson.

“Deer Valley takes their guests very seriously, and if an instructor has a confrontation with a guest, we don’t last,” he said.

He said Mr Sanderson had “refused help” from a ski patrol following the collision.

“If either skier had said ‘I’m hurt, I need assistance’, that would have changed everything, that would have made it so we all stayed on the scene,” he said.

“If anyone is hurt, (ski) patrol will have to be called, statements will be made, patrol will assess injuries.”

Mr Christiansen firmly denied there had been a “cover up” to protect Ms Paltrow.

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  Gwyneth Paltrow in Park City courtroom in Utah for the start of a trial over a 2016 skiing crash. AP

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  Terry Sanderson, 76, a retired optometrist is suing the actress accusing her of colliding with him at Deer Valley Resort in 2016. AFP

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  Ms Paltrow and her lawyer Steve Owens. AP

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  Mr Sanderson claims that the collision left him with brain damage and four broken ribs. EPA

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  Mr Sanderson also claims Ms Paltrow was cruising down the slopes so recklessly that they collided, leaving him on the ground. EPA

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  The actress-turned-influencer covers her face as she exits the courtroom. EPA

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  Ms Paltrow hides her face as she leaves the courtroom. AFP

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  The actress outside the courtroom after the first day of testimony. AP

Mr Sanderson told the court he had become a “self-imposed recluse” after the incident and was “not feeling as fun, not feeling engaged – not having that spark I once had”.

Describing the physical and mental effects of the crash, he said: “I can’t ski any more, I was told if I did and had another crash I could wind up full time in a nursing home.

“I’m like living another life now.”

Mr Sanderson became emotional as he described the end of his relationship with former partner Karlene Davidson in the aftermath of the crash.

“It was a sad time for both of us, I know, and she’s in a great relationship now… and that was the purpose, and I think better than what I would have brought her, honestly,” he said.

“It’s hard to admit that.”

The court has previously heard testimony from Ms Paltrow, who reiterated multiple times she had been the “victim” of the crash.

She said she felt “very sorry” for Mr Sanderson’s declining health following the incident but said she was not “at fault”.

Mr Sanderson is seeking damages of a minimum of 300,000 dollars while Ms Paltrow’s counter-claim is for one dollar plus legal fees.