Gwyneth Paltrow is facing a legal battle following a 2016 ski crash accident. Johnny Depp's lawyer, Benjamin Chew, had some words for the Oscar winner.
Gwyneth Paltrow Disrespectful In The Courthouse?
The lead attorney that led Depp in his victorious defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard offered some advice to the Shakespeare in Love actress.
Paltrow has been open about being unhappy that the trial against her has been filmed and photographed. She was spotted using a blue notebook to keep her face hidden every now and again.
Chew advised the Goop founder to "lose" the notebook.
Chew said, per Express:
"This isn't a family vacation away from the crowds when you have a legitimate expectation of privacy. This is a courthouse."
Depp's legal advisor also called out Paltrow for playing the part of a prima donna and looking like a sad sack on the stand. Chew also noticed how Paltrow did not stand up when the judge and jury entered the courtroom.
The legal expert suggested it "may have just been nervousness or an accident." However, according to him, "That comes off as very disrespectful."
Chew added:
"General demeanour is very important. You have to assume that at any given moment one of the jurors is looking at you as the client. "All eyes are going to be on them at every moment so they have to be at their best. Not slouching, not grimacing, not reacting to negative testimony. They have to use their acting abilities to retain their composure."
The legal expert acknowledged that Paltrow's legal team may have also been to blame for her faux pas. The lawyer added that prior to the trial, the attorneys and their clients would meet multiple times, and it's vital to "choreograph everything in advance," but it seemed that her attorneys were more focused on cameras and photographs.
Chew also offered a few words of advice to help Paltrow with her case:
"If there are weaknesses in her story she should embrace them rather than hide from them. I don't know, in this case, whether there are any blind spots in her story, but I don't think she should run away from them."
Gwyneth Paltrow's Testimony Went Viral
Paltrow testified on Friday and shared her account of the 2016 ski accident. She said she was "very sorry" for what happened to Terry Sanderson but insisted it wasn't her fault.
Paltrow said:
"It seems like he's had a very difficult life but I did not cause the accident so I cannot be at fault for what subsequently happened to him."
Paltrow was asked if the incident deterred her from enjoying the very expensive vacation.
"Well, I lost half a day of skiing, yes," she said.
Her remarks went viral, with many poking fun at her because she only lost half a day skiing while Sanderson was left with serious injuries.
One netizen said of Paltrow's viral quote:
"Brilliant victimhood statement."
Another added:
"'Lost a half a day of skiing' entitled, arrogance."
Sanderson sued Paltrow because the violent crash allegedly left him with "a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries." He claimed they were skiing on the beginner's slope, and she skied "out of control."
Sanderson is seeking $300,000 in damages. Paltrow filed a countersuit, and she is seeking $1 in damages.
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