Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is being sued for a collision on a ski mountain in Park City, Utah, that happened seven years ago. The plaintiff, Terry Sanderson, wants $3 million for what he says are injuries that destroyed his life.
At 69 years old with multiple underlying health conditions like partial blindness in one eye, a fragile skull, a stroke, a busted knee from skiing, trouble hearing, and more, Sanderson decided to throw caution to the wind and ski on a mountain teeming with people whizzing around at great speeds. He claims that Paltrow hit him from behind, causing four rib fractures and a devastating concussion that caused traumatic brain injury from which he never recovered.
Adding insult to injury, Sanderson says Paltrow “bolted off” after without even bothering to see if he was okay. Paltrow’s account is much different and her lawyers have claimed that Sanderson ran into Paltrow and Paltrow’s ski companion checked on Sanderson and helped him up while she picked herself up and went to join her family.
The only eyewitness is a friend of the plaintiff who contradicted his testimony at his deposition. If I were a jury member, I wouldn’t have found him very credible. It looked as if he was making up a new story to fit the plaintiff’s narrative, hoping no one would recall what he said at his deposition. Five years ago the witness testified that Paltrow was not wearing a helmet or goggles or face covering. Now, he says she was. Five years ago, he said he and the plaintiff ate together often. Now he claims they didn’t… or did. Watch the video.
.@attorneysings you have to see this. go back and watch from the top. I'm dying. This is not how testimony works, sir! Impeached! pic.twitter.com/v5hQ4YHW5g
— Megan Fox (@MeganFoxWriter) March 22, 2023
On top of the sketchy eyewitness testimony, there’s an email from Sanderson to his children entitled, “I’m famous,” where he sends a link to something that is no longer available claiming it’s evidence. The plaintiff’s daughter replies, saying there was a GoPro recording of the crash. But that video has gone mysteriously missing. No one knows where it is.
Terry Sanderson emailed his daughters "I'm famous" with a link claiming to show the footage of the accident. That footage caught on a GoPro is mysteriously missing. For me, if I'm on the jury, this is the end of his case. He had footage. It has been destroyed. #GwynethPaltrow pic.twitter.com/0bhT0xEqoU
— Megan Fox (@MeganFoxWriter) March 24, 2023
But despite all the evidence that has come out during the plaintiff’s case—the defense has yet to put on its case—the public appears to be rooting for Paltrow to lose. The prevailing sentiment on social media is that the movie star is “elitist,” “snobbish,” and “snooty.” Much of this is because of what people have interpreted from her facial expressions they deem unpleasant. Some are openly stating they don’t care if she’s at fault or not, they want to see her pay.
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By now I don’t even care if she bumped into him or not – her attitude is pissing me off so much #GwynethPaltrowtrial #GwynethPaltrow #gwynethpaltrowskicrashcase pic.twitter.com/vPTaNimygG
— Lilly inLondon (@Lilly_in_London) March 23, 2023
Whatever it is people see in Paltrow’s face, I don’t know. I see someone who looks tired and anxious and who would rather be anywhere else than in court defending herself against what she believes is a false allegation.
I’m about to do something here that is probably not going to win me any friends, but I ask you, when was the last time I shied away from controversy? Here’s the thing: I know why you don’t like Gwyneth Paltrow. She named a kid “Apple,” she thinks nannies are a necessity (and believe me, if you could afford one, you’d think so too—I spent a blissful week in the Hamptons with my rich friend and her nannies took care of my children while we did whatever we wanted and it was great!). Paltrow wears clothes that cost more than your car is worth, she walks red carpets, she sells $2,000 heated yoga mats, and appears to have no idea that anyone buys food anywhere other than Whole Foods. But perhaps her biggest sin was selling a candle that claimed to smell like her vagina.
Gross.
But, of course, it didn’t really attempt to smell like genitalia and instead just smells like patchouli or, as my cousin who bought one says, smells like “aging hippie.” The truth is, it was a good gimmick. It got everyone talking about her company, Goop, and we still laugh about it today. It’s one of the things that makes me think Paltrow is probably hilarious. Is she out of touch with the common folk? Sure. But I bet after a few glasses of wine everyone around her is doubled over laughing.
I’ve been covering her trial after tuning in one night and seeing some of the weirdest lawyering I’ve ever seen. Paltrow’s attorney, Steve Owens, is one of the most abrasive, short-tempered lawyers I’ve ever seen on camera. His attitude is so shocking it’s genuinely hilarious and he doesn’t know it, which makes him even funnier. Here he is telling the judge he doesn’t want any objections from the plaintiff’s lawyer, like he has a choice.
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I cannot stop laughing. pic.twitter.com/YTLPRg3kt2
— Megan Fox (@MeganFoxWriter) March 22, 2023
It’s pure comedy, but it isn’t helping Paltrow at all. Then again, the plaintiff’s lawyer isn’t exactly suave, either. He has a coughing problem that is so bizarre one wonders if it’s some kind of unknown strategy to interrupt at key moments, maybe. I don’t know, but it’s riveting television. For one, it’s a nice break from the traumatic murder trials we’ve all been watching. The stakes here are pretty low.
Second, we get to watch two rich people have a public fight. In case you want to feel sorry for Sanderson, he’s a doctor who skis at the most expensive mountain in Park City, Utah, and he travels the world regularly. This is not an average Joe who will suffer financially if a movie star doesn’t pick up his tab. In fact, Sanderson traveled worldwide after the crash he says destroyed his life and made him unable to enjoy anything anymore. The photographs of his jaunts to exotic locations tell a different story.
The plaintiff’s lawyers have hired expensive experts to testify that the only way Sanderson could have received his injuries is to have been hit from behind. I’m sure the defense counsel will also have an expert to tell us the opposite next week. Expert witnesses are often untrustworthy due to the fact that they are paid to tell whatever story the guy signing the check wants them to.
The only piece of evidence that would really clear this up is the missing GoPro footage of the accident. If the plaintiff had it and it shows he’s telling the truth, how could he have lost it? Why didn’t he sell it to TMZ for several hundred thousand dollars, as anyone else would do? The footage is the smoking gun. Without it, this boils down to he said/she said.
It is not unheard of, however, that a celebrity involved in some incident is sued as a cash grab by an unscrupulous person. It happens very frequently and is a hazard of being famous. Insurance companies that indemnify celebrities will often settle cases like this in order to make them just go away. Donald Trump is currently facing indictment for settling with Stormy Daniels over something similar. She attempted to shake him down, threatening to tell the public he had an affair with her, and he paid her not to. Whether he did have sex with that woman is unclear, but famous people paying off grifters and liars is very common.
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But Paltrow did not settle. Instead, she chose (and her insurance company allowed her) to go to court and take a stand and say no. She’s putting herself on display, knowing she will face ridicule and unpleasantness. Why? Why would she do this when a quiet payment would have made it all go away? I can’t think of any other reason than she simply didn’t do it and her conscience won’t allow her to admit some form of guilt when she feels she was the one who was wronged—not only by being the injured party, but by then being extorted with a money grab.
No other explanation makes sense. Think about it. If the plaintiff is correct and Paltrow did hit Sanderson and was negligent in some way, would her insurance company allow her to take the risk of a much bigger jury award rather than a quicker, smaller settlement?
Would her family want to see her dragging their personal information into the public, on camera, knowing that she was at fault? Would her publicist? That doesn’t make any sense to me. If Occam’s Razor holds, the simplest explanation is the right one: that Paltrow was not at fault and wants to send a message that she is not an easy mark.
Many of the symptoms that Sanderson has suffered appear to be part of the normal aging process and his underlying conditions before the crash. I’m sure the concussion and broken ribs didn’t help. It’s much harder to recover as we age, which is one of the reasons Sanderson should have considered taking up golf or swimming or something much less risky as he approached the twilight years. To me, the negligence resides with him for putting himself at such a high risk of injury. But the law and the jury may disagree if they find Paltrow was responsible for the crash.
And sadly for Paltrow, that’s probably what will happen, despite no clear evidence of who hit who first. It seems to me that the public has made up its mind that Paltrow should pay because they don’t like her. She has a “resting bitch face,” she has too much money and leisure time, and the rest of us are having trouble buying eggs. She’s a convenient target of ire during a time of economic suffering because she represents what everyone wants and can’t have. The public envies Paltrow and so she must pay. EAT THE RICH and damn the facts. Justice is not blind. It’s vengeful and petty. They have decided they know her personally (though they don’t) and can read her facial expressions, and those expressions are what people imagine to have crossed the brow of Marie Antoinette as she laughed at the poor and mocked their empty bellies. All of that adds up to a guilty verdict in the eyes of the public (and, by extension, the jury since they, too, are members of the public).
This is dangerous. It is irresponsible, and if this is the basis on which decisions in the courtroom are made, we are headed down a very bad road. While Paltrow’s case is a civil case with a lower burden of proof, recent murder cases have given rise to a bad feeling in the pits of the stomachs of people who care about liberty and law. Attorney Joe Nierman recently gave voice to the heart of the matter when commenting on the Zachary Anderson guilty verdict on the thinnest of circumstantial evidence. (Around the 7:30 mark.)
We hold these truths to be self evident that we’re so high and mighty and we say all men are considered innocent in the eyes of the law until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Popycock! It is a lie! It is not true. It is not the way things work, and you see it time and time and time again. It felt like a miracle that a kid who is running for his life from people who were trying to kill him—and it felt like miracle that he managed to win on self-defense…We hold ourselves out to be far far better than we are. We stink!
Neirman continued to lament the leeway the state is given to convict someone using anything they can throw at him coupled with the permissiveness of the judges that is erasing the rights of the accused. It’s worth a listen. The public needs a much better understanding of what the rights of the accused person are, and we need to be very concerned that innocent people are being railroaded.
It’s a dangerous time to be in front of any jury, and I blame the #MeToo movement. Americans today believe in feelings over facts. They feel that Alex Murdaugh did it, so he is guilty. They feel that Zachary Anderson did it, so he is guilty. And if the pattern continues, Paltrow is as good as done. Everyone feels she’s guilty based on nothing but envy and personal prejudice against her for her unlikability. She’s lucky she’s not facing criminal charges; a negative outcome will only set her back a few million she can probably spare.
What cost will the American people pay if our justice system continues to be used as a weapon of revenge? Ask the “insurrectionists” rotting in jail for the last two years without trials. Justice is taking off her blindfold and what happens after that isn’t anything any of us want to experience.
(Editors note: this article initially misspelled Terry Sanderson’s name as Terry Sanders. This has been updated.)
FAQs
Why is Gwyneth Paltrow so famous? ›
Recent News. Gwyneth Paltrow, in full Gwyneth Kate Paltrow, (born September 27, 1972, Los Angeles, California, U.S.), American actress and lifestyle innovator who was best known for her film portrayals of intelligent and complex characters. In 2008 she created goop, a lifestyle brand.
How much money is Gwyneth Paltrow worth? ›Gwyneth Paltrow, with an estimated net worth of $200 million, made her fortune through acting, her lifestyle brand Goop, endorsements, and book deals. Her diverse investment portfolio includes real estate, stocks, startups, and crypto. Paltrow's most significant source of wealth, Goop, is valued at $250 million.
How much is goop worth? ›Forbes reported that at around the time, PitchBook estimated Goop's worth at USD 250 million, but the company said that it was off the mark without revealing if it was more or less. Reports suggest that Paltrow's stake in the company is somewhere around USD 75 million before taxes.
Does Gwyneth Paltrow have a child? › What does Goop stand for? ›Goop was incorporated in 2011. According to Paltrow, the company's name came from Peter Arnell telling her that successful internet companies have double O's in their name, and she "wanted it to be a word that means nothing and could mean anything". Seb Bishop was CEO of Goop from 2011 to 2014.
What happened between Winona and Gwyneth? ›Paltrow is rumored to have stolen a script from Ryder.
The rift in their friendship supposedly occurred after Paltrow came across the script for Shakespeare in Love at Ryder's house and decided to try and get a role in the film herself.
1. Jami Gertz. Richest actress in the world with a 3.2 billion dollars of net worth. She owns the Atlanta Hawks NBA team and is recognised for acting in movies like The Lost Boys, Less than Zero, etc.
What does Gwyneth Paltrow do for a living now? ›Gwyneth Kate Paltrow Falchuk (/ˈpæltroʊ/; bornSeptember 27, 1972) is an American actress and businesswoman. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award.
How much money did Dakota Johnson get for 50 Shades of GREY? ›How much money did Dakota Johnson get paid for Fifty Shades of Grey? Because Johnson was not well-known at the time of her casting, she didn't make the big bucks (well, by Hollywood standards) for the first movie in the Fifty Shades series. For Fifty Shades of Grey, Johnson was reportedly paid $250,000.
Is Gwyneth Paltrow a vegan? ›Gwyneth Paltrow Shared What She Eats in a Typical Day—And It's Surprisingly Simple. The Goop founder says she's “become more of an omnivore.”
What did Gwyneth Paltrow invest in on Shark Tank? ›
According to Crunch Base, Paltrow has invested in more than 15 companies ranging from an online design platform called The Expert and a telehealth start-up for women in menopause, Evernow, to Hollywood celebs' favourite crypto start-up MoonPay. Others include tonic line Olipop and Saie, a clean beauty brand.
What is the most expensive stuff on Goop? ›The most expensive (and head-scratching) item on Goop's holiday guide is the $34,000 Bubble Gum Gym, a jungle gym that features gold-plated details and lacquered wood.
Was Brad Pitt married to Gwyneth Paltrow? ›Paltrow and Pitt began dating in 1994 after working together on the movie “Se7en” and separated in 1997 a few months after getting engaged, according to Us Weekly.
Is Gwyneth Paltrow a Democrat? ›DEMOCRAT. Paltrow hasn't publicy endorsed a candidate for the 2008 election, but appeared in an ad for Democrats Abroad, encouraging Americans overseas to cast a ballot in November. Paltrow has also donated more than $8,200 to the Democratic Party, according to NewsMeat.
Who is Dakota Johnson husband? ›| Dakota Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Partner(s) | Chris Martin (2017–present) |
| Parents | Don Johnson (father) Melanie Griffith (mother) |
| Relatives | Jesse Johnson (half-brother) Peter Griffith (grandfather) Tippi Hedren (grandmother) Tracy Griffith (aunt) Antonio Banderas (stepfather) |
| Awards | Full list |
Goop claimed, without scientific backing, that the products could balance hormones, regulate menstrual cycles and increase bladder control. In 2018, she was sued for advocating for the products and ultimately agreed to pay a $145,000 settlement and reimburse those who purchased the products.
Is Supergoop owned by Gwyneth Paltrow? ›Is Supergoop Gwyneth Paltrow's brand? At first glance, you may think that Supergoop is related to Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle brand, Goop, but that's not the case. Supergoop was created in 2007, a year before Gwyneth Paltrow founded Goop.
Why is Goop so popular? ›One of the reasons goop is so popular is because it sets the trend instead of following it. A prime example of this is the current craze around gluten free diets. Back in 2013 Paltrow not only talked about eating gluten free foods she wrote a cookbook on the subject.
Why was Winona canceled? ›WINONA, Minn. - Due to impending weather and expected playing conditions, the Winona State - St. Cloud State softball doubleheader has been canceled. WSU and SCSU were scheduled to compete Sunday, April 16 in a neutral site matchup at the University of Northwestern in St.
Who is Gwyneth Paltrow's best friend? ›Gwyneth Paltrow shares EPIC collage of throwback images in sweet birthday post for BFF Mary Wigmore: 'My dearest, oldest' She may have ended up being an A-list actress, author and businesswoman.
Did Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder get along? ›
Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder did not get along well at all during filming, which shocked the rest of the cast because the two had become friends during rehearsals. They reportedly came back from a break in the schedule seemingly hating each other all of a sudden, with no indication given then as to what had happened.
Who is the No 1 richest actor in world? ›Who is the number one richest actor in the world? Currently, Jami Gertz is the richest actor in the world with a net worth of $3 billion.
Who is the highest paid female celebrity of all time? ›The highest-paid female entertainer in 2020 was Kylie Jenner with an annual income of 590 million U.S. dollars, a salary eclipsing every other celebrity who made it onto the ranking of top 100 earners.
Who is the No 1 richest actress in the world? ›Jennifer Aniston - $300-$330 million (£252-277 million)
Friends star Jennifer Aniston is believed to be the wealthiest actress in the world - during the final season of friends she and her co-stars were making $1 million per episode, and each of the six main cast are believed to earn around $20 million in royalties.
The 2019 Toyota Prius L Eco is a really simple yet highly economical hatchback. Paltrow's car is a stock vehicle with hybrid capabilities. This makes the car an easy-to-drive and economically sensible choice to go with.
Who is Gwyneth Paltrow seeing? ›Paltrow has seemingly found her happily ever after with “Glee” producer Brad Falchuk.
Where does Gwyneth Paltrow stay? ›The Goop founder is reportedly living the luxe life in the exclusive ski-in, ski-out gated community called The Colony at White Pine Canyon, which is known for its massive properties with big price tags, according to The Daily Mail.
Who did they originally want for Fifty Shades of Grey? ›While "50 Shades" author E.L. James has said actor Ryan Gosling was the original prototype for Christian Grey, he doesn't do sequels. "50 Shades" is a guaranteed trilogy. Before Hunnam got the gig, Garrett Hedlund reportedly turned it down.
Who got paid most from Fifty Shades of Grey? ›Dakota's Fifty Shades of Grey Salary Got a Huge Bump
Despite all the hype surrounding the first film, Dakota reportedly took home $250,000 for Fifty Shades of Grey. Which is obviously a lot of money in the world of, well, normal people—but it's a pretty small salary for an A-list star.
Emilia Clarke Explains Why She Turned Down 'Fifty Shades of Grey' for Its Nudity After Doing 'Game of Thrones' Imagine a Fifty Shades of Grey with Emilia Clarke as Anastasia Steele instead of Dakota Johnson.
Is Angelina Jolie A vegan? ›
Brad Pitt is said to have been a vegan for years, although Angelina Jolie isn't any longer. Brad Pitt is said to have been a vegan for years, although Angelina Jolie isn't any longer, saying. "I was a vegan for a long time, and it nearly killed me. I found I was not getting enough nutrition."
Does Jennifer Aniston vegan? ›Is Jennifer Aniston Vegan? Many are curious to know about the star's diet. While she's not vegan, she does seem to eat a lot of plant-based foods and have sustainability on her mind. In Jennifer Aniston's new interview with Allure, it seems that the star enjoys a nice homemade shake.
Is Miley Cyrus no longer vegan? ›Miley Cyrus is no longer vegan
Cyrus made the transition because she believed she was deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids.
What Is the Most Successful Product on "Shark Tank"? With more than $225 million in lifetime sales, Bombas has generated the highest sales on "Shark Tank". The company, which sells comfort socks and T-shirts, donates one item per item sold to help the homeless.
How did Gwyneth Paltrow make so much money? ›In addition to the massive success of Goop and her profitable work in the film industry, Gwyneth has authored books, invested in real estate, and worked with brands. All of which puts her net worth at a sky-high $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Who is the most successful Shark Tank investor? ›Mark Cuban is one of the richest people in the US with a net worth of US$4.6 billion, according to Forbes. The Dallas Mavericks NBA team owner has grown his fortune from investing in Shark Tank projects after he joined the series as a guest in season two.
Is Goop edible? ›But… if you do want to dip in, the five goop by Juice Beauty products are organic, so technically they are edible.
What is Goop made of? ›There are two ingredients in this recipe: cornstarch and water. If you don't have the same quantities as us, the ratio is one part water and two parts cornstarch. Pour almost all of water on the cornstarch, around 3/4 cups.
How much does a Goop cruise cost? ›Tickets for Goop at Sea are available for US$750 to guests who book suite accommodations in The Retreat on Celebrity Beyond's September 24, 2022 “Italian Riviera and France” sailing.
Who is Brad Pitt's love? ›Ines de Ramon (2022 – Present)
Pitt and Ines de Ramon were recently linked after they were spotted backstage at a Bono concert in December 2022. A source confirmed the two dating at the time to Entertainment Tonight saying, “Brad and Ines recently started dating.
What happened between Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow? ›
They Broke Up Months Later
Only a few months after getting engaged, the seemingly perfect couple called it quits. In 2015, Paltrow blamed the breakup on her youth during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show. “I think I was a kid and I wasn't ready. He was too good for me,” the Sliding Doors actress said at the time.
Gwyneth has been giving her updates and asking for advice during the planning. ' The two have been friends for over 20 years and they share many mutual pals including Drew Barrymore and Nicole Richie (who is Cameron's sister in law).
Are Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow friends? ›They've been friends since the late-2000s, and they've even dated. In public, celebrity couples frequently display their close bond. They have not been seen together in recent years. Amber Rose suggested that Gwyneth Paltrow was “Becky with the Apps” in the song Sorry by Beyoncé.
Is Gwyneth Paltrow Iron Woman? ›Paltrow last played Potts in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, where she even got to wear her own Iron Man-style armor suit. In one memorable moment, Potts teamed up with other female Marvel heroes to stand against Thanos' army. But it took many years for the MCU to introduce that many female characters.
Are Chris Martin and Dakota still together? ›Chris Martin has reportedly split from Dakota Johnson. The 42-year-old musician - who was previously married to Gwyneth Paltrow - has told friends that he's no longer in a relationship with Dakota, who is best-known for starring in the Fifty Shades movies.
Are Jamie and Dakota in a relationship? ›We had to really trust each other and protect each other,” Dakota Johnson added while talking about Jamie Dornan. She made it clear that her Fifty Shades of Grey co-stars are nothing more than friends. Johnson also hit the headlines over a 2015 viral clip where she was seen speaking about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
Why is Gwyneth Paltrow so rich? ›In addition to the massive success of Goop and her profitable work in the film industry, Gwyneth has authored books, invested in real estate, and worked with brands. All of which puts her net worth at a sky-high $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Did Gwyneth Paltrow win $1 dollar? ›The jury apparently found Paltrow likeable enough, returning after just 2 1/2 hours to give her a resounding win that blamed the collision 100% on Sanderson. Paltrow was awarded the $1 she requested in her countersuit, a symbolic amount that mirrored Taylor Swift's response to a radio host's defamation lawsuit.
Is Gwyneth Paltrow best friends with Beyonce? ›Talk about star power. Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been close friends with Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin for decades — and their bond has only strengthened over the years, despite the Goop founder and Coldplay frontman's 2016 divorce.
Was Brad Pitt Married to Gwyneth Paltrow? ›
Paltrow and Pitt began dating in 1994 after working together on the movie “Se7en” and separated in 1997 a few months after getting engaged, according to Us Weekly.
Who will pay Gwyneth Paltrow's legal fees? ›Paltrow, 50, had filed a countersuit seeking $1, which the 76-year-old Sanderson must now pay, according to the ruling.
How much are Gwyneth Paltrow's legal bills? ›“This case has been going on for four or five years and has been very heavily litigated and then goes through an eight-day jury trial — her fees are going to be in the $800,000 to a million range,” Salt Lake City-based personal injury lawyer David Cutt told The Post.
How much were Gwyneth Paltrow's legal bills? ›Paltrow's legal fees
Corpuz estimated her attorneys fees in the $500,000 to $1 million range. "Paltrow's attorneys have probably billed between $800,000 and $1,000,000 in fees, but that is purely my estimation," said Salt Lake City, Utah, attorney David Cutt of Cutt, Kendell & Olson.
Over years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has given us many iconic bonds and moments. Among these, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr have developed one of the best friendships. The on-screen couple is one of the dearest friends in real life.
Who is Beyoncé's best friend? ›American singer-actress Michelle Williams opened up like never before especially about her struggle with depression and her priceless friendship with pop titan Beyonce and other fellow band singer Kelly Rowland.
How many marriages has Gwyneth Paltrow had? ›She is the founder of one of the biggest lifestyle websites known as Goop. Speaking on the romantic front, Gwyneth Paltrow has dated some of the serious Hollywood hunks as she has been married two times and engaged three times.