KEY POINTS
- Gwyneth Paltrow has been cleared of wrongdoing after a 2016 ski-slope collision with a retired optometrist.
- The live-streamed trial became a pop culture fixation, drawing worldwide attention.
- It was also one that contained many notable moments.
Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow has been cleared of wrongdoing after a 2016 ski-slope collision with a retired optometrist in which he broke four ribs and was concussed.
The live-streamed trial involving Paltrow, 50, and Terry Sanderson, 76, became a pop culture fixation.
Paltrow, who in recent years has refashioned herself into a celebrity wellness entrepreneur, looked to her lawyers with a pursed lips smile when the judge read the eight-member jury’s verdict in the Park City, Utah courtroom. She sat intently through two weeks of testimony in what became the biggest celebrity court case since actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard faced off last year.
Both parties blamed the other for the collision. The pair tumbled down the slope on a beginner run at the Utah ski resort, with Paltrow landing on top of him.
Worldwide audiences followed the celebrity trial as if it were episodic television. Viewers scrutinised both Paltrow and Mr Sanderson’s motives while lawyers directed questions to witnesses that often had less to do with the collision and more to do with their client’s reputations.
Here are five notable moments:
Treats declined
Paltrow’s lawyer, Steve Owens, at one point during the trial asked could bring treats for the court security officers.
It came a few days after Judge Kent Holmberg had told the defence court staff would help Paltrow from her car to the courtroom without being disturbed by the paparazzi.
“Security for my client wanted to bring in treats for the bailiffs for how helpful they’ve been,” Mr Owens said. “So I wanted to do that transparently and see if there were any objections.”
After Mr Sanderson’s lawyers objected, Judge Holmberg replied: “Let them know: thank you, but no thank you.”
Gwyneth Paltrow (left) and Terry Sanderson’s lawyer, Kristin VanOrman (right). Source: AAP, AP / Rick Bowmer
Lawyer’s ‘jealousy’
On the fourth day of the trial, Paltrow spent more than two hours testifying to the Park City jury.
One might have expected she would have received a grilling from Mr Sanderson’s lawyer, Kristin VanOrman. Instead, parts of the exchange were described by some spectators as comedic.
“This Gwyneth Paltrow testimony is like an SNL (Saturday Night Live) skit,” writer and podcast host, Amee Vanderpool, tweeted.
Responding to a question about her height, Paltrow said she was about 5′ 10″ to which VanOrman replied, “I’m so jealous.”
“I think I’m shrinking though,” Paltrow said.
“You and me both,” Ms VanOrman responded. “I have to wear four-inch heels just to make it to 5’5″.”
Acknowledging her footwear, a complimentary Paltrow replied: “Well they’re very nice.”
At another point, Paltrow recalled she was “yelling” at Mr Sanderson after the accident to which VanOrman quipped, “you’re small but mighty”.
She then added: “Actually you’re not that small.”
‘It’s an actual dollar I’m asking for’
After his initial lawsuit seeking US$3.1 million ($4.6 million) was dropped, Mr Sanderson amended the complaint and then sought US$300,000 ($446,500).
Paltrow filed a counterclaim in response, seeking legal fees and $US1 ($1.50) in damages.
During her testimony, Ms VanOrman asked Paltrow if the damages figure she was seeking was symbolic, to which she replied: “It’s an actual dollar that I’m asking for”.
Worldwide audiences followed the celebrity trial as if it were episodic television. Source: AAP, AP / Rick Bowmer
Mr Sanderson’s lawyer didn’t let up. After Paltrow said it was “symbolic because the damages would actually be more”, Ms VanOrman then asked if singer Taylor Swift — who in 2017 countersued a a radio DJ for $1 — had inspired her to ask for the same figure.
Ms VanOrman said: “Remember me asking you, is it symbolic and you said yes it is, and I asked you as well, well you learned about that through Taylor Swift, because she asked for $1 in symbolic damages, right?”
Paltrow replied, “I think I said at that point that I had not been familiar with it but I since am.”
After being asked if she was “good friends” with Swift, Paltrow said “no” but added they were “friendly”.
“We are friendly. I’ve taken my kids to one of her concerts before, but we don’t talk very often,” she said.
‘King Kong’
When announcing the lawsuit at a press conference in 2019, Mr Sanderson said Paltrow was “screaming like King Kong in the jungle” — a comment he apologised for while under cross examination.
He was quizzed about this by both Paltrow’s lawyer, Steve Owens, and his own, with Ms VanOrman asking him to clarify what he meant by the comment.
“My apologies to Ms. Paltrow, because my intention was, got twisted up in my intentions, was to say it sounded like a lady getting chased by King Kong out of the jungle,” he said.
When announcing the lawsuit at a press conference in 2019, Mr Sanderson said Paltrow was “screaming like King Kong in the jungle”. Source: AAP, AP / Rick Bowmer
‘Another personality inhabited my body’
After the collision, Mr Sanderson sent his daughters an email with the subject line: “I’m famous”.
Asked under oath why he used those words, he said his “head was scrambled”.
“I didn’t pick my words well. I was trying to add a little levity to a serious situation and it backfired.”
Mr Sanderson did not deny sending the email, but insisted, “It’s the other personality that’s inhabiting my body right now.”
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