Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski collision trial began to take shape on Wednesday when doctors for a man she collided with at a Utah ski resort in 2016 testified about the broken ribs and lasting brain damage he sustained. “After his accident, he deteriorated abruptly,” Wendell Gibby, a radiologist, testified about Terry Sanderson, the 76-year-old suing Paltrow over the crash. “And many of the activities that he used to do, he stopped doing.” Another doctor and two family members were expected to testify in a trial about a 2016 crash between Paltrow and Sanderson, who claims her recklessness left him with lasting injuries and brain damage. After a judge threw out Sanderson’s earlier $3.1m lawsuit and ruled that he was not entitled to punitive damages, Sanderson now claims damages of “more than $300,000”. That pales in comparison to the typical legal costs of a multi-year lawsuit and expert witness-heavy trial. More than a dozen are expected to testify throughout the eight-day trial in Park City, a posh ski town known for hosting the Sundance film festival. In a counterclaim, Paltrow is seeking $1 and attorney fees: a familiar, symbolic action that highlights how her reputation, not money, is at stake. Taylor Swift countersued a radio host for the same amount in 2017. Though the court is not publishing a witness list, attorneys said Sanderson’s daughters, Shae Herath and Polly Grasham, would probably be called to testify on Wednesday. Sanderson’s lawyers on Tuesday left the possibility open that they may call Paltrow to the stand. Paltrow will probably testify on Friday. Her children, Moses and Apple, are also expected to testify, her attorney said. Both parties claim they were crashed into from behind, relying on a Utah law stipulating that whoever is downhill has the right of way. Paltrow’s attorneys have asked the judge, Kent Holmberg, to grant special restrictions including limiting photography in the courtroom and the public parking lot. On the opening day, Paltrow used a blue notebook to shield her face when entering and exiting the courtroom. The trial is expected to hinge on how the 10 jurors – six women and four men – interpret evidence from medical experts and whether they see Sanderson’s injuries as directly related to the accident or a normal progression of age. The jurors are all residents of Summit county, where the median house price last month was $1.3m, according to Redfin. Paltrow’s attorneys cautioned the jury on Tuesday not to be biased by feeling pity for Sanderson. They called his story “utter BS”, building off earlier claims that he is seeking to exploit the wealth and celebrity of the Oscar-winning star of Shakespeare in Love and other films. Sanderson’s attorneys have attempted to paint Paltrow as a negligent celebrity with little care for the injuries inflicted upon the 76-year-old military veteran. They called Sanderson’s ex-girlfriend and a ski companion to testify on Tuesday. Karlene Davidson said the crash “changed” Sanderson and contributed to the demise of their romance. Craig Ramon testified that Paltrow hit Sanderson. He said one of her ski instructors came up to him and said: “Your buddy just took out Gwyneth Paltrow.”