UPDATE: Gwyneth Paltrow denied Wednesday that she skiied into a man who accused her in a lawsuit of seriously injuring him at a Utah ski resort.
In a counterclaim, Paltrow says that the man, Dr. Terry Sanderson, actually plowed into her from behind and hit her with a full “body blow.”
The A-list actor said she was shaken by the collision and quit skiing with her family for the day. She said Sanderson apologized to her and said he was fine. She had previously denied blame for the crash in a statement but had not yet offered a full version of the events.
“She did not knock him down,” Paltrow’s court filing said. “He knocked her down. He was not knocked out.”
You can read Paltrow’s counterclaim in its entirety, below. (The original story can be found below the counterclaim.)
ORIGINAL STORY: A Utah doctor has filed a lawsuit against actor Gwyneth Paltrow, claiming the star collided with him on a ski hill and then left him with serious injuries. He’s seeking US$3.1 million in damages.
In legal papers filed Tuesday, Dr. Terry Sanderson said that Paltrow severely injured him in a “hit-and-run” ski crash at Deer Valley Resort in Utah.
Salt Lake City lawyer Robert B. Skyes, who’s representing Sanderson, said the doctor was struck from behind while skiing on a “green” run at the resort three years ago in February 2016. (Green generally indicates a beginner run.) The filed documents state that he suffered a traumatic brain injury, four broken ribs and other “serious injuries.”
The lawsuit also accuses Paltrow of being “distracted” while skiing and of causing immense emotional distress.
Skyes said the A-list actor skied off without checking on Sanderson and “accepted no responsibility.”
Heather Wilson, a spokeswoman for Paltrow, says the lawsuit is “without merit” and that Paltrow expects to be “vindicated.”
Paltrow’s ski instructor, Eric Christiansen, who was with her during the time of the alleged incident, claims that Sanderson caused the crash. The doctor contests this version of events, saying there’s no way the instructor witnessed it. There is another eyewitness, Craig Ramon, who often skied together with Sanderson and was present that day, and his testimony is in line with the doctor’s.
“I saw her hitting him perfectly in the back,” claimed Ramon in a video interview played during a Tuesday press conference. “She landed right on top of him, then she slides off to the side… Gwyneth started trying to get up. Terry wasn’t moving or anything. He didn’t lose his skis, they were facing directly out and he’s facing directly down the hill.”
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The lawsuit, which was filed in the Third District Court of Summit County, claims Christiansen didn’t notify any emergency responders and supposedly filed a fake report to protect Paltrow.
The lawsuit reads that Sanderson “suffered physical and mental injuries… pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and disfigurement,” including “anxiety, depression and other health problems.” He said he “incurred medical expenses and additional life care expenses” and he will “continue to suffer injuries and damages in the future due to the negligence” of Paltrow and Deer Valley resort.
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Sanderson is also suing for punitive damages, legal costs and lawyer fees.
“I would like to be vindicated,” said Sanderson at the press conference. At multiple instances during the conference, the doctor held his head in his hands and at times appeared confused.
Sanderson claims his lawyer has been in touch with Paltrow’s legal team, but no further details of those talks were revealed.
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With files from The Associated Press