Gwyneth Paltrow's Accuser, Terry Sanderson, May Face A Whopping Legal Bill

Fatima Araos
Closeup of Gwyneth Paltrow
Getty | Pool

Following Gwyneth Paltrow’s victory in her ski crash trial, her accuser Terry Sanderson may need to shell out as much as $1 million to pay her attorneys’ fees, according to experts.

Sanderson's Accusation

Gwyneth Paltrow and Terry Sanderson in court
Flickr | jv394587

Sanderson, a 76-year-old retired optometrist, accused the Oscar-winning actress of crashing into him during a ski trip at Deer Valley Resort in Utah back in 2016.

His Lawsuit

He said he sustained broken ribs and a brain injury because of the crash and sued Paltrow for $300,000. However, she denied the accusation and countersued for a symbolic $1 plus legal fees.

Paltrow Won

Closeup of Gwyneth Paltrow
Flickr | imdtopost

On Thursday, an eight-person jury sided with the 50-year-old actress and found Sanderson to be 100 percent at fault in the ski collision. They awarded her $1 in damages along with attorneys’ fees.

How Much Are Those Fees?

$100 bills
Unsplash | Giorgio Trovato

Now, lawyers familiar with the process are sharing their opinions on how much those legal fees may be.

An Expert Opinion

Gwyneth Paltrow at the trial
Flickr | smilewiki01232

The New York Post talked to David Cutt, a personal injury lawyer based in Salt Lake City, Utah, who factored in the length of time the lawsuit has been going on.

It's Been Going On For Years

Gwyneth Paltrow posing in a black blazer
Flickr | steven 117

“This case has been going on for four or five years and has been very heavily litigated and then goes through an eight-day jury trial,” he said.

How Much He Thinks The Fees Are

“[H]er fees are going to be in the $800,000 to a million range,” he concluded.

Paltrow Hired A Top-Notch (And Expensive) Team

Aside from the length of time her lawyers have been working on the case, Paltrow likely hired a top-notch legal team, which doesn’t come cheap.

How Much Do Lawyers Charge Per Hour?

Courtroom
Unsplash | David Veksler

Ted Spaulding, a Georgia-based personal injury lawyer, said that the rates of partners at law firms could range from $400 to as much as $600 or $700 an hour.

'The Best She Could Get'

Gwyneth Paltrow in a striped blouse and shades
Flickr | 1000Prettygirls

“She can obviously afford that. She probably got the best she could get and she probably litigated the heck out of it,” he added.

A More Conservative Estimate

$100 bills
Unsplash | Alexander Mils

However, Spaulding’s estimate of her legal fees was more conservative at under $500,000 than Cutt’s $800,000 to a million.

Who Heads Paltrow's Legal Team?

For the case, the Shakespeare in Love star enlisted Stephen Owens, a Utah-based lawyer who’s the President of the Epperson & Owens firm. He was also a past President of the Utah State Bar.

The Judge Will Determine Attorneys' Fees

Now that Paltrow has won the trial, the judge will decide next how much Sanderson needs to pay in attorneys’ fees.

What's Next For Her Lawyers?

To do that, her legal team has to submit a log of “every task” with “minutes or hours attached to it” – an undertaking that could last months.

Sanderson Might Dispute It

The experts also said that it’s likely Sanderson’s team will dispute the amount and ask that it be reduced.

How He Will Pay

As for how the optometrist will be able to pay what he owes, Cutt said that his homeowners insurance will likely cover part of it.

The Rest Is 'His Personal Responsibility'

“The judgment against him is almost certainly going to exceed that,” he explained. “So unless he has a million dollars in homeowners insurance, there might be a substantial amount of this judgment left that will be his personal responsibility.”

'No Decisions' On The Amount Yet, Rep Says

Gwyneth Paltrow in a beige cape
Flickr | imdtopost

According to Paltrow’s rep, “no decisions have been made” yet regarding the amount the actress is seeking in attorneys’ fees.

No Word From Sanderson's Lawyers

The New York Post reached out to Sanderson’s lawyers for a comment, but they have not responded yet.