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ARTICLE · 04 MAY 2023

Gwyneth Paltrow's Ski Collision Trial: Five Differences Between The Ontario And U.S. Civil Justice System

Minden Gross LLP
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In March 2023, a Utah civil trial jury found Academy Award-winning actress, businesswoman, and wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow not liable in a 2016 ski collision case that occurred at a luxury resort.

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Arnie Herschorn
Arnie Herschorn
Hivda Ates (Student-at-Law)
Hivda Ates (Student-at-Law)
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What might have happened if the Paltrow trial had taken place in Ontario?

The Paltrow Trial: A High-Profile Case

In March 2023, a Utah civil trial jury found Academy Award-winning actress, businesswoman, and wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow not liable in a 2016 ski collision case that occurred at a luxury resort. Paltrow was sued by retired eye doctor Terry Sanderson, who claimed that Paltrow negligently crashed into him from behind while skiing at Deer Valley Resort in Utah, causing him severe injuries. Despite Sanderson's original claim for damages of $3.1 million, Sanderson was ultimately found liable to Paltrow (by a jury) for the symbolic sum of one dollar, plus costs.

Unsurprisingly, the Paltrow trial garnered attention beyond typical courtroom dramas, thanks, in part, to the actress's strategic use of fashion. The New York Times' Vanessa Friedman describes her courtroom wardrobe, a "symphony of earth tones, conservative yet luxurious and relaxed," as

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