Gwyneth Paltrow Wins Ski Collision Lawsuit

The actor countersued 76-year-old Terry Sanderson for $1

BY Sydney BrasilPublished Mar 31, 2023

Gwyneth Paltrow was found not responsible for a 2016 ski accident that allegedly left a man with four broken ribs, a concussion and permanent brain damage.

A civil lawsuit filed by 76-year-old Terry Sanderson, a retired optometrist, was dismissed by a jury on Thursday (March 30). Said suit claimed that Paltrow was at fault for a collision wherein Sanderson crashed into the actor from behind while skiing at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, UT. 

With her victory, Paltrow has been awarded a symbolic $1 USD plus legal fees, compared to just north of $300,000 Sanderson was suing her for. Sanderson originally sued for $3.1 million, but refiled after a judge threw that suit out.

The trial was livestreamed, with many of its absurd moments well-documented and turned into meme fodder online. Virtual and live reenactments of the collision were displayed, and Paltrow claimed to have felt "violated" by Sanderson in the immediate aftermath of the crash as she gained her bearings. 

Sanderson and his attorneys were ruthless, comparing Paltrow to Jefferey Epstein and scrutinizing her for her friendship with Taylor Swift, who also filed a similar $1 countersuit in 2017. To make the trial even more bougie, Sanderson's ex-girlfriend testified that since the accident, he has "no joy left in his life" as he can no longer enjoy wine tastings. 

After winning her $1, Paltrow whispered in Sanderson's ear, "I wish you well." Speaking with reporters, Sanderson claimed to have responded, "Thank you, dear." After the trial, he expressed that his characterization was "a disappointment." Paltrow's lawyers declined to comment. 

Latest Coverage