Though Paltrow's celebrity status brought much attention to an already unusual case, a juror wanted to remind the public that it was not the actress-turned-Goop-founder's status that helped vindicate Paltrow.
Instead, Samantha Imrie, a juror in the trial, told ABC News that the facts of the case — coupled with expert input and social media posts from Sanderson — ultimately helped Paltrow prevail.
"I think it's important that the public doesn't just think that this was a win because Gwyneth's a celebrity," she told the outlet. "This is based on the evidence. This is based on the law."
Imrie said she was convinced by Paltrow's testimony, but the expert input from Irving Scher, a biomechanical engineer and sports safety expert, helped sway the case in the actress' favor.
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During his testimony on March 28, Scher used physics and diagrams to show how Paltrow's version of the incident was more likely than Sanderson's.
"He's a snow sports expert in many different ways," Imrie said of Scher. "I think the fact that Dr. Scher could speak to the dense settings and he specifically studied snow science that he had a stronger opinion."
Imrie added that Sanderson's social media photos of him traveling after the 2016 accident also hurt the retired optometrist's case.
In the trial, Sanderson's attorney brought experts to argue that his client suffered from brain injuries that changed his behavior. One doctor told the court that Sanderson could no longer enjoy wine tasting.
Imrie said that Sanderson's social media posts clashed with the portrait that his attorneys tried to show the jury.
"I wouldn't have thought he was capable of those things based on the picture that had been painted," Imrie said.
According to ABC News, Imrie changed her opinion multiple times during the trial before a jury finally deliberated for a few hours and unanimously found Sanderson 100% responsible for the ski collision.
"I felt that acquiescing to a false claim compromised my integrity," Paltrow said in an Instagram story following the jury verdict. "I am pleased with the outcome and I appreciate all of the hard work of Judge [Kent] Holmberg and the jury, and thank them for their thoughtfulness in handling this case."
Attorneys for Sanders and Paltrow did not respond to a request for comment.
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