It’s been a week since actress Gwyneth Paltrow was forced to testify in a Utah court over a skiing accident she was involved in in 2016 after Terry Sanderson, a retired optometrist, she allegedly ran over while skiing on the slopes of Deer Valley Resort, near Salt Lake City (USA), sued her for a sum of more than 300,000 euros.
The man alleged that he suffered brain damage and various permanent injuries as a result of said accident, which forced the Oscar-winning actress to take the stand and testify before Judge Kent R. Holmberg. Of course, not without “fighting”, because she in turn sued him for the symbolic sum of a dollar, something that Sanderson will have to pay her now, since the actress has won the trial.
The jury deliberated and decided that the actress was exempt from guilt for the ski accident after eight days of trial, but there was a moment that captured the attention of everyone in the room. At the end of the hearing, the actress was about to leave the court premises, but she stopped before her to whisper something to Sanderson, who was still in her place next to her lawyer.
The actress leaned in and said something to the retired optometrist that they couldn’t pick up the microphones, but we already know what it was thanks to the plaintiff’s lawyer, who has confirmed it to the Entertainment Tonight portal. The actress told him: “I wish you the best”, to which he replied: “Thank you, dear.”
A gesture that has been applauded by social networks, which are still suspicious that the actress wants to collect the dollar for which she sued the optometrist.
In a statement issued by the interpreter’s representatives, Paltrow herself wanted to thank the judge and jury, stating that she had gone ahead with her lawsuit because she felt that “accepting a false claim” compromised her integrity.
A few words endorsed by her lawyer, Steve Owens, who also defended his client, assuring that the actress “has a history of defending what she believes in” and “will continue to defend what is right.”
Sanderson was initially seeking $3.1 million in compensation from the actress, alleging that the incident negatively affected his life by leaving him “severely injured.” A judge later ruled that she could only ask for 300,000 of that sum.
According to Sanderson, the blows from the accident left him totally incapacitated, but the actress denied running into him, insisting that it was the optometrist who had gotten in her way. What’s more, the actress’s lawyers accused her of exploiting his wealth and fame.
In response, Paltrow countersued for and attorney’s fees, a symbolic move that parallels Taylor Swift’s decision and her response to a radio host’s defamation lawsuit.
