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Gwyneth Paltrow Shares New Thoughts on Famous Ski Trial

Originally posted on Powder | By Matt Lorelli | Last updated May 1, 2025 1:48 PM ET

Actress and wellness brand founder Gwyneth Paltrow was the subject of a widely-publicized civil lawsuit back in 2023.

Paltrow was sued by Terry Sanderson, an optometrist who claimed Paltrow had injured him during a collision at Deer Valley Resort, Utah. The trial was televised and Paltrow was ultimately found not to be at fault.

Eye witness accounts and even a high-tech animated reconstruction of the incident proved that Sanderson was in the wrong as the uphill skier, and that Paltrow was actually the victim. Rather than settle out of court, Paltrow fought back and was awarded a symbolic $1 for damages, and the cost of her lawyer fees.

Paltrow has been mostly silent about the case since it wrapped up nearly two years ago, even after the trial was turned into a comedic play in London titled, 'Gwyneth Goes Skiing'.

The actress ended her silence on the matter when she appeared on a recent episode of 'The World's First Podcast With Erin & Sara Foster'. A good friend of Sara Foster, Paltrow spoke candidly throughout the duration of the interview and even commented on the famous court trial.

"The idea that somebody could ski into your back and knock you down, and then sue you. I was like, 'this is everything that's wrong with our legal system'," said Paltrow. "That's why I felt like I had to fight it".

The full clip can be viewed below. Tap or click to watch.

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The clip is short, but Paltrow explains that she refused to be "shaken down" by Sanderson in the lawsuit. As a woman of wealth and means, Paltrow could have likely settled the case out of court. She chose to fight back instead.

Paltrow's trial was under public scrutiny due to her popularity, but skier collisions, and the subsequent trials that occur afterwards, are actually quite common in The United States. If you need a reminder, take a look at the billboards that line Colorado's I-70 with advertisements for ski-crash-chasing lawyers and legal services.

Let her very public trial be a reminder to always ski in control, and that the downhill skier has the right of way. Don't be a Terry Sanderson.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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