Gwyneth Paltrow, the Academy Award-winning actress, is currently in a civil lawsuit in Utah, where she is accused of causing a skiing accident with 76-year-old retired optometrist Terry Sanderson in 2016. Sanderson is suing Paltrow for $300,000, claiming that the incident left him with cracked ribs and debilitating brain injuries. Paltrow has countered by filing a lawsuit on her own, demanding only $1 plus legal fees.
The case has garnered much media attention, with Paltrow's choice of clothing at the courtroom attracting particular interest. The actress was seen wearing gold jewelry and traditional businesslike silhouettes, such as suits, cardigans and turtlenecks, with her hair loose and makeup modest. This is in stark contrast to other famous defendants such as Lil Kim, Winona Ryder, Harvey Weinstein, and Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, who have all dressed in a way to appear more respectable, mature, innocent or even decrepit. Paltrow's choice of attire has been seen by some as a way to show that she is not attempting to exploit her wealth and celebrity.
During the trial, Paltrow took the stand in a long navy skirt, and Sanderson's lawyer Kristin VanOrman couldn't help but comment on the actress' stature. While some light banter happened between the two, VanOrman subtly tried to imply that Paltrow may have been reckless on the slope, potentially watching her children ski instead of paying attention to what was in front of her. The trial is anticipated to conclude next week, though VanOrman is barred from commenting until then.