Case Not Over, but Taylor Swift Scores Big Court Win

Judge tosses ex-DJ's case against her personally
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 12, 2017 5:17 AM CDT
Case Not Over, but Taylor Swift Scores Big Court Win
Taylor Swift performs in Houston in this file photo.   (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP, File)

Taylor Swift teared up and hugged her attorneys after a judge determined a former radio host did not prove she personally set out to have him fired for allegedly groping her at a photo op before a concert. But the singer's ordeal isn't over quite yet. While US District Judge William Martinez threw out David Mueller's case against Swift on Friday, identical allegations against her mother and her radio liaison are expected to go to jurors on Monday. Mueller sued the three after Swift's team reported the alleged 2013 assault in Denver to his bosses. He is seeking up to $3 million, saying the allegation cost him his reputation and his job. Swift countersued Mueller, saying she wanted a symbolic $1 and the chance to stand up for other women. The jury will still consider her assault claim.

"I couldn't be more proud to represent somebody like Taylor Swift who's willing to step up in a situation like this," attorney Douglas Baldridge said outside court Friday. He also expressed his gratitude for the judge. Mueller's team didn't comment on the decision, which followed days of testimony from the singer and others and just before jurors were set to hear closing arguments. Swift spent an hour on the witness stand Thursday defiantly recounting what she called a "despicable and horrifying and shocking" encounter before a concert. "He stayed attached to my bare ass-cheek as I lurched away from him," she testified. "It was a definite grab. A very long grab," she added in her testimony. She told jurors she was too stunned and horrified to immediately react at the time. (More Taylor Swift stories.)

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