Gwyneth Paltrow ski crash trial Day 3

Gwyneth Paltrow’s alleged ski slope crash victim tried to overcome the brain injury he suffered from the crash but was unable, the court heard.

The formal proceedings began with testimony from Terry Sanderson’s neuropsychologist Dr Alina Fong, who said he had been an ‘ideal patient’ who showed no signs of ‘faking’ or simulating his injuries.

Dr Fong said: “Terry showed up to every appointment on time, he did his best. He had 32 hours of therapy – he was an ideal patient. I have to see him every day.

“There was no suggestion that he was faking or pretending in any way – it was quite the opposite. He didn’t want to be sick and he was ready to do whatever he could.’

She also described how Sanderson suffered from an array of symptoms, including pain and personality changes that affected her life.

Thursday’s proceedings will hear from Sanderson’s daughters, Shae Herath and Polly Grasham, before Sanderson himself begins his account of the accident at 4 p.m.

Dr Fong said she encouraged him to travel, albeit with companions, to help him overcome his problems.

She said: ‘He was reporting a myriad of symptoms, including cognitive problems – he wasn’t thinking as clearly as he used to.

“He reported personality changes, pain, headaches that he didn’t have before. These quite significantly affected his life – his personal relationships, his family life.

‘Her self-confidence. It affected him on so many levels. He loved life, travel. By the time he came to see me, everything was gone.

During cross-examination, the hearing devolved into a series of angry exchanges between Paltrow’s lawyer, James Egan, and Dr Fong – the neuropsychologist disparaging defense experts and accusing them of not not take post-concussion symptoms seriously.

Watched by Paltrow, who had swapped his much-derided ‘Jeffrey Dahmer glasses’ for a pair of tortoiseshells, Dr Fong said Egan was trying to ‘convolve’ things by raising possible alternative causes of Sanderson’s symptoms and blamed it on the skiing accident. .

She told the court: ‘Anything is possible but not probable.

“It was a major injury where he lost consciousness and had four broken ribs, it wasn’t a light tap.

“Whether or not he lost consciousness shouldn’t be debated – it’s a red herring. You don’t have to pass out to have a concussion.

After angrily ordering Egan not to interrupt, she added, “Of all the experts speaking out, I’m the best judge of what happened to him in this case.” You criticize me but we can turn it around – your experts haven’t spent time with him.

‘He’s still in trouble. This is where the emphasis should be. He still needs help.

Paltrow looked glamorous in a baggy gray sweater and matching trousers, paired with her now customary $1,200 Celine boots as she returned to court for a third day

Paltrow looked glamorous in a baggy gray sweater and matching trousers, paired with her now customary $1,200 Celine boots as she returned to court for a third day.

The actress, 50, made a late appearance in Park City District Court in Utah.

Paltrow is due to testify on Friday, but Thursday’s proceedings will hear from Sanderson’s daughters, Shae Herath and Polly Grasham, before Sanderson himself begins his account of the accident at 4 p.m.

The court began with another litany of complaints from his lawyer Stephen Owens about cameras in court, with the lawyer then embroiled in a row with Sanderson’s lawyer Robert Sykes over a staff request Paltrow security.

The heavyweights, one of whom is a Briton with a tattooed neck, had asked to bring sweets to give to the bailiffs to thank them for their help in dealing with the photographers.

That help yesterday was to shield Paltrow from the waiting snappers, which prevents them from taking a picture of the actress leaving court.

Sykes complained that the request was not put before his team – Judge Kent Holmberg later dismissed it.

The legal saga has already seen a number of dramatic moments, with Sanderson’s lead attorney, Lawrence Buhler, calling the actress “insensitive” and “reckless” in her opening plea.

Owens fired back, describing Sanderson’s account as “total BS” and insisting the 76-year-old rammed into his client and not the other way around.

The court also heard from Craig Ramon, 48, who witnessed the accident and blamed Paltrow for it, and radiologist Dr Wendell Gibby who testified that Sanderson suffered permanent brain damage as a result of the accumulation of ski slopes.

Neuropsychologist Sam Goldstein also said Wednesday that Sanderson was “obsessed” with what happened.

Sam Goldstein, a neuropsychologist, testified Wednesday afternoon that Sanderson complained of having difficulty with daily life after the accident and suffered a “frontal lobe injury”.

Dr Wendell Gibby showed the court on Wednesday x-rays and brain scans which he said indicated Sanderson’s injuries were caused by Paltrow crashing into him.

In cross-examination, the medical expert said Sanderson had previously suffered from depression – but insisted it had been ‘accelerated’ by the accident.

He also admitted Sanderson was ‘obsessed’ with the accident and believed he had been ‘left behind’ on the tracks – telling the court that even an apology from Paltrow would not improve his situation.

Dr Goldstein said: “He was obsessed with being dropped on the slope and what motivates [his mental state] at this point it’s probably a combination of things, not just that he was skimmed and that person lacked remorse.

‘If the person who jumped on him apologized, I don’t think that would help him today.’

He also testified that Sanderson suffered a “mental injury” as a result of his brain injury which later led to personality changes, anger issues and confused speech such as talking in circles.

The defense repeatedly raised the testimony of Sanderson’s youngest daughter, Jenny, who said she had not spoken to her father for 13 years and who, Dr. Goldstein noted, currently has issues with him. .

The doctor said any negative personality traits Sanderson previously had would have been accelerated by the brain injury.

He said Sanderson would get lost on hikes and lose track of where he was. He said that before the accident, Sanderson was lively and active.