Gwyneth Paltrow questioned over friendship with Taylor Swift after 'symbolic' $1 claim in ski crash trial
PARK CITY, UTAH: On March 24, when called to the witness stand, Gwyneth Paltrow was asked if Taylor Swift's 2017 groping trial and her "symbolic" demand for $1 in damages were connected. Terry Sanderson is suing Paltrow for $300,000 in damages after he claims the Oscar winner crashed with him while skiing at the Deer Valley resort in Utah.
The 50-year-old Oscar winner testified on Friday during the fourth day of the civil trial in Park City, Utah, relating to the skiing accident that occurred on February 26, 2016, at Utah's Deer Valley Resort. The plaintiff's lawyer, per People, Kristin VanOrman, questioned Paltrow about the one dollar in damages she is seeking if the jury finds it in her favor.
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Why is Gwyneth Paltrow asking for 1 dollar?
When VanOrman questioned Paltrow over previous comments she made about the symbolic meaning of the one dollar request, Paltrow responded, "It's an actual dollar that I'm asking for." Paltrow added, "symbolic because the damages would actually be more."
VanOrman further asked Paltrow, "Remember me asking you, is it symbolic and you said yes it is, and I asked you as well, well you learned about that through Taylor Swift, because she asked for $1 in symbolic damages, right?" To this, Paltrow responded, "I think I said at that point that I had not been familiar with it but I since am."
Remember when I asked you whether it was symbolic and you responded in the affirmative? Well, you found out about it from Taylor Swift because she demanded $1 in symbolic damages, right? Paltrow said, "I think I answered at that moment that I had not been familiar with it but I since am," to the lawyer's question.
Why is she being compared to Taylor Swift?
As VanOrman questioned Paltrow once more about her knowledge of the specifics of Swift's August 2017 countersuit, in which a Denver jury found that former radio DJ David Mueller abused and attacked Swift, now 33, at a meet-and-greet photoshoot at the Pepsi Center in June 2013, Paltrow's lawyers disputed the relevancy of VanOrman's claim.
The Taylor Swift molestation trial concluded with a verdict after six days in court. An hour-long jury trial in Colorado concluded that Swift was assaulted and battered by former radio presenter David Mueller during a meet-and-greet photo shoot at the Pepsi Center in June 2013. Swift has received 1 dollar.
VanOrman enquired if Paltrow was "good friends" with Swift after Paltrow admitted that she was unaware of the musician's lawsuit at the time.
Are Gwyneth Paltrow and Taylor Swift friends?
When asked about her friendship with Swift, Paltrow said, "I would not say we are 'good friends.' We are friendly. I've taken my kids to one of her concerts before, but we don't talk very often."
Paltrow said, "So I'm asking for a dollar for me and then reimbursement of attorneys' fees, which is a separate thing," in response to VanOrman's question about whether it is "totally accurate" to only explain the actress' request as 1 dollar given that her counterclaim also requests that her lawyer's legal fees be paid.
Apple, 18, and Moses, 16, who were also present on the day of the ski crash incident, as well as Paltrow's husband Brad Falchuk, are expected to testify in the trial. Sanderson, who initially filed a complaint in 2019, is requesting $300,000 in damages after alleging that the accident left him with broken ribs and severe brain impairment.