A trial about a ski accident would not normally make the news, but when one party is Gwyneth Paltrow, every minute of the trial is cause for a media frenzy. At the end of March, 2023, the case of Gwyneth Paltrow v Terry Sanderson went to trial to determine who was at fault in a ski crash at Deer Valley ski resort in Utah.

The case seemed to be a simple incident of a collision course on a ski slope in which Mr. Sanderson alleged that Ms. Paltrow skied into his back, knocking him down, landing on him, and causing him to suffer a concussion and 4 broken ribs.

This CLE course will explain what can be learned from this simple case turned high profile media event, including the importance of venue, gag orders, jury selection, and more. What can be learned from this incident is not only applicable to high profile cases but also simple tort claims where there is a dispute about liability.