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Daily Record
Entertainment
Eve Beattie

Gwyneth Paltrow's parting comment 'I wish you well' following court victory

Gwyneth Paltrow reportedly whispered something in Terry Sanderson's ear after she won her ski collision trial on Thursday, March 30.

The Oscar-winning actress told her accuser "I wish you well" after winning a high-profile US skiing collision lawsuit, with a jury finding she was not at fault for the 2016 incident.

Sanderson, a retired optometrist alleged that Paltrow skied "out of control" and hit him at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, in 2016, which the actress denied reports the Mirror.

She had denied the claim, and accused Mr Sanderson of crashing into her, resulting in her losing “half a day of skiing” with her family and being “sore”.

On Thursday, jurors returned the verdict, ruling in favour of Paltrow. The decision followed the trial which saw jurors hear testimonies from Paltrow, Sanderson, family members and expert witnesses.

The star was awarded compensatory damages of one dollar.

As she got up to leave the courtroom, she touched Sanderson on the shoulder and whispered: "I wish you well."

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow and attorney Steve Owens react as the verdict is read in her civil trial (Getty Images)

Sanderson told reporters outside court following the verdict that her words had been “very kind”. “I said ‘thank you dear’,” he said.

“I felt that acquiescing to a false claim compromised my integrity,” Ms Paltrow wrote in a statement on her Instagram story, shortly after the verdict.

“I am pleased with the outcome and I appreciate all of the hard work of Judge (Kent) Holmberg and the jury, and thank them for their thoughtfulness in handling this case.”

Mr Sanderson, meanwhile, said the verdict had been “very disappointing” and continued: “You get some assumed credibility in being a famous person.

“Who wants to take on a celebrity? Someone who learns lines and how to play someone else’s part.”

Following the verdict, Paltrow said she was “pleased with the outcome”.

Paltrow was sued over the 2016 crash after Sanderson claimed she collided with him "knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries".

Sanderson had been seeking damages of $300,000 (£246,000) in the civil lawsuit, while Paltrow filed a counter-claim, in which she wanted her legal fees paid and damages of $1 (82p).

Gwyneth Paltrow speaks with retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, left, as she walks out of the courtroom following the reading of the verdict in their lawsuit trial, in Park City, Utah. (Rick Bowmer/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Both Paltrow and Sanderson gave evidence during the trial and were present in court for the verdict.

The actress, who wore a blue blazer, a white shirt and brown trousers, did not appear to react as the verdict was returned.

During the trial, Paltrow took to the stand stating that she felt "very sorry" for Sanderson following his injuries.

However, she denied any wrongdoing, reiterating in her testimony multiple times that she had been the "victim" of the crash.

The actress said she could not be "at fault" for Mr Sanderson’s subsequent health decline as she had not caused the accident.

Giving evidence on Wednesday Mr Sanderson told the court it was “very difficult” to sue a celebrity and said he felt the point of the trial had been to make him “regret” bringing action against the Hollywood actress.

Mr Sanderson’s lawyers previously suggested the jury award him damages of more than three million dollars in the case.

During closing arguments on Thursday the court heard that Ms Paltrow faced a “ransom” for a “meritless claim”, and that she had shown “courage” by attending court for the two-week trial.

Stephen Owens, representing Ms Paltrow, said the actress had sat in court for two weeks as a “punching bag” and had been “uncomfortable” during proceedings.

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