Gwyneth Paltrow is being sued for $3.1 million by a Utah doctor who accuses her of leaving him with a brain injury and four broken ribs in a skiing incident.
Retired optometrist Terry Sanderson claims the "distracted" Iron Man actress was going too fast when she lost control and slammed into him from behind at the Park City ski resort, Utah, in 2016.
The 72-year-old alleges that after Paltrow "knocked him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries," she simply "got up, turned and skied away." According to the complaint, she was rushing down the mountain to get lunch at the Montage Lodge at Deer Valley.
Soon after the GOOP boss left the scene, her instructor, Eric Christiansen, allegedly came over, informed the elderly man that the accident was his fault and skied away, without checking on Sanderson or offering any assistance for his injuries.
In his complaint, the Utah doctor claims that neither the actress nor the instructor alerted ski patrol after abandoning him, and he was left stranded and alone on the side of the mountain. After the incident, Christiansen allegedly filed a false report to protect Paltrow.
Sanderson is suing for medical expenses and life care expenses to be determined at trial. He claims that he "has suffered and will continue to suffer damages, including both economic and non-economic damages related to the ski crash in excess of $3,100,000."
His lawsuit seeks damages from the resort and three employees who were with Paltrow, as well as the Shallow Hal star.
The legal filing states: "This case involves a hit-and-run ski crash at Deer Valley, Utah, where Defendant Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit the back of Terry Sanderson, another skier, who was downhill, knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries."
"Paltrow got up, turned and skied away, leaving Sanderson stunned, lying in the snow, seriously injured. That is when a ski instructor came over and derided Sanderson claims the filing, despite the fact that he did not see the crash."
"He also failed to send help, as he was obligated to do and later filed a false report to protect his client, Ms Paltrow. Neither Ms Paltrow nor Deer Valley lodge personnel notified emergency responders about the injured Dr Sanderson. They left him at the scene with serious brain injuries caused by Ms Paltrow."
A rep for Paltrow dismissed the filing and stated their client expects to be "vindicated" in the case. "This lawsuit is complete without merit," they said. "Anyone who reads the facts will realise that."
Sanderson has reportedly said it took him nearly three years to file a lawsuit because he hesitated, ran into problems with previous attorneys and was dealing with the inability to function properly because of the concussion.
He added he had been in contact with an attorney representing Paltrow, but he was never offered any compensation or an apology.