Actress Gwyneth Paltrow took the stand in a Utah courtroom on Wednesday to testify in a civil trial over a 2016 skiing accident at Deer Valley Resort. Terry Sanderson, a retired optometrist from Texas, claims that Paltrow crashed into him from behind and left him with four broken ribs and a concussion.
Sanderson is seeking $300,000 in damages for medical bills, pain and suffering. However, Paltrow is countersuing for just $1 as she maintains that it was Sanderson who collided with her.
During her testimony on Wednesday, Paltrow described the moments leading up to the collision. She said that Sanderson "plowed into" her from behind while she was skiing with her children and hit her so hard that she was knocked down.
"I felt like I was on the bumper cars or something," said Paltrow.
Randy Kessler, a trial law professor at Emory University who has been following the case closely, spoke to CBS News about what he thinks of the trial so far.
"It's going to come down to one thing: credibility," said Kessler. "Who do you believe? Do you believe Ms. Paltrow or do you believe Mr. Sanderson?"
Kessler pointed out that there were no eyewitnesses to the collision and no video footage of what happened. He also noted that both parties have brought expert witnesses to testify about ski safety rules and regulations.
"We're seeing two very different stories here," said Kessler. "It's really going to be up to the jury."
The trial is expected to last until Friday or possibly even longer depending on how many witnesses are called. The outcome of this case could set an important precedent for future skiing accidents involving celebrities or other high-profile individuals.
As of now, both parties are hoping for a fair and just outcome from the trial.