Lawsuit Ongoing Over 2016 Ski Resort Accident
"Ski Entered Between Legs Causing Body Compression"
Opponent Is a Man in His 70s... Demands 400 Million Won Claiming Brain Injury
Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who recently appeared in court over an accident that occurred at a ski resort seven years ago, explained the situation by saying, "I quickly moved away because I thought I was being sexually assaulted."
According to Time and other outlets on the 24th (local time), Paltrow testified in a damages lawsuit held at the Park City court in Utah, USA, claiming that she was also deeply shocked by the collision accident.
In February 2016, Paltrow was sued for $300,000 (approximately 400 million KRW) in damages for colliding with and injuring Terry Sanderson, a man in his 70s, at a luxury ski resort near Park City in the Rocky Mountains, USA, and then leaving without taking appropriate action. Sanderson claims that the collision caused him to suffer broken ribs, brain damage, and various aftereffects.
Regarding the collision, Paltrow testified, "Two skis came between my skis, causing my legs to spread apart and putting pressure on my body." She added, "Then I heard a very strange groaning sound, and in my head, I was trying to understand the situation, thinking, 'What is happening?' and 'Who is doing this perverted act?'" She continued, "We fell together, and this man was behind me," adding, "I just quickly moved away."
Paltrow also said that she injured her knee in the collision and later received massages. She filed a countersuit against Sanderson, claiming symbolic damages of $1 and attorney fees, asserting that Sanderson was responsible for the collision. However, Paltrow clearly stated that she is not accusing Sanderson of sexual assault and apologized for having insulted him with offensive language after the collision.
Sanderson claimed, "I lost consciousness for several minutes after colliding with Paltrow," and said, "After the collision, Paltrow's children distracted attention around the slope and fled the accident scene. All responsibility lies with Paltrow."
At the trial, Sanderson's daughter, Polly Sanderson, said, "My father, who was outgoing and sociable, changed after the ski accident to become anxious, easily frustrated, and someone who does not form relationships with anyone." Sanderson's primary care physician also testified, "Sanderson was an energetic person, but his emotional regulation suddenly worsened after the accident."
In response, Paltrow's legal representative pointed out that Sanderson is a man in his 70s and had several health issues, including vision and hearing loss due to a previous stroke before the collision, suggesting that his memory of the long-past accident may not be clear.
At Utah Ski Resorts, Right of Way is Given to Those Below
In Utah, when skiing downhill, the person above must always yield the right of way to the person below. Therefore, in this trial, determining who was positioned lower between Paltrow and Sanderson is expected to be a key issue.
Meanwhile, before the trial, Paltrow expressed through her lawyer a desire to give a gift to the court security officers, saying, "I received a lot of help." However, Sanderson's legal team opposed this, and the judge also rejected the offer, saying, "There is an objection, so thank you, but no." It is unknown what kind of gift Paltrow had prepared.
The trial between Paltrow and Sanderson will resume on the 27th.
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