Terry Sanderson, Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski crash accuser, told his daughter ‘I’m famous’ after she allegedly shattered 4 of his ribs

• Gwyneth Paltrow was in Utah court on Tuesday for opening statements in a ski-crash lawsuit.

• Terry Sanderson accused the actress of crashing into him at the Deer Valley Resort in 2016.

• Paltrow countersued, saying it was Sanderson who crashed into her.

The retired optometrist suing Gwyneth Paltrow over a 2016 ski crash at Utah's Deer Valley Resort emailed his daughter hours after the crash, telling her "I'm famous," lawyers for both parties said during opening statements on Tuesday.

Terry Sanderson's lawyer, Lawrence Buhler, preemptively brought up the email in his opening statement to the jury that will decide the case in Utah's Third District Court, saying it would be used against his client to downplay the seriousness of his condition after the accident. But Buhler said the email is irrelevant and doesn't prove Sanderson didn't sustain a serious brain injury or four broken ribs, as he claims.

Sanderson sued the "Shakespeare in Love" star for negligence in 2019, alleging that Paltrow crashed into him while skiing a beginner slope at Deer Valley. His lawyer says there's evidence he suffered more than $3 million in damages from the injury.

Paltrow countersued, saying it was Sanderson who ran into her. In his opening statement Tuesday, Paltrow's attorney, Steve Owens, said she's asking for just $1 in damages.

Attorneys for Sanderson and Paltrow didn't immediately return Insider's request for comment.

In his opening statement, Sanderson's attorney said Paltrow was distracted, watching her children ski behind her the morning of February 26, 2016, when she ran into Sanderson from behind, taking him to the ground.

Buhler said Paltrow violated ski etiquette to give the skier in front of her, Sanderson, the right of way. He said this etiquette is "especially important" on a beginner run.