Los Angeles, US, Mar 22 (EFE).- Actress Gwyneth Paltrow denied causing a 2016 ski collision at a mountain resort in Utah as she testified Friday afternoon in a civil trial.
Retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, 76, is suing Paltrow for $300,000. He and his lawyers allege Paltrow crashed into him on a beginner’s slope at Deer Valley Ski Resort, causing a lasting brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries.
Paltrow, 50, is counter-suing Sanderson for $1 plus legal fees, alleging that he was responsible for the accident.
“I feel very sorry for him. It seems like he’s had a very difficult life. But I did not cause the accident, so I cannot be at fault for anything that subsequently happened to him,” she said.
Paltrow’s version of events is the exact opposite of Sanderson’s. The lifestyle influencer said that she was enjoying a day of skiing with her family when “Mr Sanderson skied directly into my back.”
“Two skis came between my skis, forcing my legs apart and then there was a body pressing against me and there was a very strange grunting noise,” Paltrow said.
“My brain was trying to make sense of what was happening. I thought, ‘Is this a practical joke? Is someone doing something perverted? This is really, really strange,’” she added, describing how at first she wondered if it was a sexual assault.
She also commented that out of anger she yelled at Sanderson.
“I said, ‘You skied directly into my effing back and he said, ‘Oh sorry, sorry, I’m sorry,’” Paltrow said in court .
“It felt violating to have somebody press their body against my back and I’m sorry I cursed.”
The trial began on Tuesday and among the witnesses who have spoken are people close to the plaintiff, such as two of his daughters, who have said that the life and personality of their father have changed dramatically since the accident.
The actress’ children Moses and Apple, who were with her on the day of the accident, as well as some of the Deer Valley Resort staff, are expected to testify next week.
In addition, an animated reconstruction of the events will also be reviewed. EFE
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