Gwyneth Paltrow is worried about how her bombastic 2016 skiing accident lawsuit is going, her trial has heard.
Paltrow, 50, is in court for an eight-day hearing to decide whether she caused a skiing accident that left retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, 76, with four broken ribs and brain damage.
In a pre-trial conference Wednesday afternoon, the two legal teams argued over whether Paltrow’s attorney can question Sanderson’s daughter, Polly Grasham, about another daughter, Jenny, who will not appear.
Sanderson’s attorney said the questioning constituted an unnecessary attack on his character, which comes only because Paltrow “worries about the course of this case.”
Sykes said, “You can’t attack someone’s character just because their client is concerned about the progress of this case.”
Terry Sanderson’s attorney said Gwyneth Paltrow was concerned about how her bombastic legal battle over a 2016 skiing accident is going. Paltrow is scheduled to testify on Friday, but the court will hear from Sanderson today
Paltrow watched as her attorney got involved in a heated argument with the daughter of the skier she is said to have bumped into in 2016
Terry Sanderson’s daughter Polly Grasham, 49, said he changed dramatically after the crash and is no longer the “sociable” man he once was
Before the crash, Grasham said her father (pictured entering the courthouse) had a “Mensa spirit”, was good at troubleshooting and loved spending time with granddaughters
Skyes added: ‘[Polly] is 49, she has been away from home for almost 30 years to ask her questions about her sister [Jenny] Those who have not testified run the risk of a jury convicting someone who will not testify.’
Owens, who was overruled, had said he wanted to ask Grasham about her father’s behavior towards her sister Jenny and about an email he sent after the accident in which he stated, “I’m famous!”
He said, “It’s her [the plaintiff’s] Position he doesn’t fake for profit. It is our position that he is. I have a $3 million case to defend for my client.
At one point during cross-examination, Paltrow turned and grimaced at onlookers as her attorney engaged in a heated exchange with Grasham.
Paltrow’s attorney, Stephen Owens, initially accused Grasham of preventing her sister Jenny from coming to trial, before repeatedly asking her if she thought Sanderson had treated her “dominatively and abusively.”
Grasham said she offered to pay for her sister’s plane ticket to attend the trial and said her father was not domineering and abusive towards her sister and mother but said he was a strict parent.
Owens said he also offered to buy Jenny a plane ticket and asked Grasham if she influenced her sister not to come, to which she replied: “No, not at all – I honor people’s journeys so that’s entirely up to you with her.”
Polly Grasham, 49, now lives near Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, but still sees her father Terry Sanderson “four to five times” a year.
She said he changed dramatically after the crash and is no longer the “sociable” man he once was.
Before the crash, Grasham said her father had a “Mensa spirit”, was good at troubleshooting and loved spending time with granddaughters Hope, 25, and Anne, 22.
Paltrow’s attorney Stephen Owens questioned Polly Grasham and repeatedly asked her if she believed Sanderson had been “dominating and abusive” towards her sister
At the end of her testimony, Grasham was in tears as she told the jury she hoped her family would be able to move on after the trial
‘[He was] just very fun loving, sociable, very quick with a joke and a smile. My father was smart. I used to describe him as a Mensa ghost. Quick to find out,’ she said.
Grasham said: “It’s really messy right now, it’s really hard. I think he’s in a really negative place and that’s hard for me as a daughter.
“It’s like the main clause is gone and all we have are the small details – part of the frustration is that he gets caught up in small details and the primary focus is gone.
“I have to come full circle. I think he gets frustrated and angry. Now it’s very A to B, don’t throw in a C or D. I understand that there is a lot of sadness and loss for the way his life used to work, it doesn’t work that way now.
She said she found out about the accident on the day of the accident and knew he was receiving medical attention, but didn’t realize the extent of his injuries until he came to Idaho for Hope’s graduation in late May 2016.
Grasham said: “There was a time when he was sitting in a chair by my window and I almost expected drool to come out of his mouth. “He hadn’t engaged with anyone and gone to a secluded corner – that was the first time I felt something was terribly wrong.”
She also said Sanderson became increasingly angry and “petty” after the crash – in contrast to his previous behavior.
Grasham said symptoms were worst in the first 18 months after the crash and have improved somewhat since, but said he still struggles with multitasking and disorientation.
At the end of her testimony, Grasham was in tears as she told the jury she hoped her family would be able to move on after the trial.
She said: “I hope he moves on, I hope we can move on from this very strange chapter.
“I think we have a lot of healing to do and this rehab so he can try to have a good life. He deserves that.”
Day 3 of Gwyneth Paltrow’s skiing accident trial began with the testimony of Terry Sanderson’s neuropsychologist, Dr. Alina Fong
Thursday’s proceedings will be heard by Sanderson’s daughters, Shae Herath and Polly Grasham, before Sanderson himself begins his account of the crash at 4pm
Earlier in the day, official proceedings began with testimony from Sanderson’s neuropsychologist, Dr. Alina Fong, who said he was an “ideal patient” who showed no signs of “faking” or faking his injuries.
dr Fong said, “Terry showed up to every appointment on time, he did his best. He had 32 hours of therapy – he was an ideal patient. I have to see him every day.
“There was no indication that he was simulating or faking in any way – quite the opposite. He didn’t want to be sick and was willing to do whatever he could. ‘
She also described how Sanderson suffered from a variety of symptoms, including pain and personality changes, that affected his life.
dr Fong said she encouraged him to travel, albeit with companions, to help him overcome his troubles.
She said: “He reported a variety of symptoms, including cognitive problems – he wasn’t thinking as clearly as before.
“He reported personality changes, pain, headaches that he hadn’t had before. These influenced his life quite significantly – his personal relationships, his family life.
“His confidence. It affected him on so many levels. He loved life, travelling. When he came to me it was all gone.’
During cross-examination, the hearing ended in a series of angry exchanges between Paltrow’s attorney, James Egan, and Dr. Fong – with the neuropsychologist chiding the defense experts for not taking the symptoms after a concussion seriously.
Watched by Paltrow, who had traded in her much-mocked “Jeffrey Dahmer glasses” for a pair of tortoise shells, Dr. Fong said Egan was trying to “confuse things” by pointing out possible alternative causes for Sanderson’s symptoms, blaming it on the skiing accident.
She said in court: “Anything is possible, but not probable.
“This was a serious injury in which he lost consciousness and had four broken ribs, this was no light touch.
“Whether or not he’s passed out shouldn’t be discussed – it’s a red herring. You don’t have to pass out to get a concussion.”
After angrily ordering Egan not to interrupt him, she added: “Of all the experts with an opinion, I am the best judge of what happened to him in this case. You criticize me, but we can change that – your experts didn’t spend time with him.
“He’s still fighting. That should be the focus. He still needs help.”
Paltrow was glamorous in a loose gray sweater and matching pants, along with her now-customary $1,200 Celine boots, as she returned to court for a third day
Paltrow looked glamorous in a loose gray blazer and matching pants, paired with her now-standard $1,200 Celine boots for the third day of the hearing. The 50-year-old actress made a late appearance in Utah’s Park City District Court.
Paltrow is scheduled to testify on Friday, but will be heard from Sanderson’s other daughter, Shae Herath, on Thursday, before Sanderson himself begins his account of the crash at 4 p.m.
The court began another litany of complaints from her attorney Stephen Owens about cameras in court, with the attorney then becoming embroiled in a dispute with Sanderson’s attorney Robert Sykes over a request from Paltrow’s security guards.
The Heavies, one of whom is a Brit with a tattooed neck, had asked for treats to be brought to the bailiffs to thank them for their help dealing with photographers.
Yesterday that help consisted of shielding Paltrow from the waiting snappers – making it impossible for them to take a picture of the actress leaving the court.
Sykes complained that the request had not been forwarded to his team – and Judge Kent Holmberg subsequently denied it.
The legal saga has already seen a number of dramatic moments, with Sanderson’s lead attorney, Lawrence Buhler, calling the actress “callous” and “reckless” in his opening statement.
Owens hit back, describing Sanderson’s account as a “total crap” and insisting the 76-year-old punched into his client and not the other way around.
The court has also heard from Craig Ramon, 48, who witnessed the crash and blamed it on Paltrow, and radiologist Dr. Wendell Gibby, who testified that Sanderson suffered permanent brain injuries as a result of the impact on the ski slope.
Neuropsychologist Sam Goldstein also testified Wednesday that Sanderson was “obsessed” with what happened.
Sam Goldstein, a neuropsychologist, testified Wednesday afternoon that Sanderson complained that he was struggling with everyday life after the accident and suffered a “frontal lobe injury.”
dr Wendell Gibby showed the court X-rays and brain scans on Wednesday that suggested Sanderson’s injuries were caused by Paltrow punching him
On cross-examination, the medical expert said Sanderson had previously suffered from depression – but insisted it had been “accelerated” by the crash.
He also admitted that Sanderson is “obsessed” with the crash and believes he was “abandoned” on the runway – telling the court that even an apology from Paltrow would not improve his situation.
dr Goldstein said: “He was obsessed with getting abandoned on the slopes and what drives [his mental state] At this point it’s probably a combination of things, not just that he drove in and that person lacked remorse.
“I don’t think it would help him today if the person who bumped into him apologized. ‘
He also testified that Sanderson suffered a “mental injury” as a result of his brain injury, which subsequently led to personality changes, anger issues, and confused speech like talking in circles.
The defense has repeatedly solicited testimony from Sanderson’s younger daughter, Jenny, who said she had not spoken to her father in 13 years and who, as Dr. Goldstein stated that he was currently having problems.
The doctor said any negative personality traits Sanderson previously had were accelerated by the brain injury.
He said Sanderson would get lost on hikes and lose track of where he was. He said Sanderson was lively and active before the accident.