Taylor Swift 'cost me my career,' radio host tells jury at groping trial

A US radio host denied groping pop singer
Taylor Swift and accused her of ruining his
career as a civil suit brought by him got
underway Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Swift has counter-sued, alleging David
"Jackson" Mueller groped her during a photo
opportunity at a 2013 concert.
She looked on with her mother at her side in the
Denver courtroom as he took the stand to testify.
"It cost me my career...the thing I love the most,"
Mueller said. "It's despicable, the thing they've accused
me of."
Mueller did not sue his station KYGO or its parent
company Lincoln Financial Media Co. of Colorado,
after he was fired June 4, 2013.
Instead, he is seeking $3 million in lost wages and
future income from Swift, alleging her complaint led to
his unfair dismissal.
He told the court he had sent out two dozen resumes
and audio samples, but received no job offers since
being terminated. He had a contract with KYGO for
$150,000 a year.
Mueller's attorney Gabriel McFarland told the eight
member jury it was a "he said, she said situation," and
that Swift mistook her client for someone else.
'It's an assault '
The singer, who alleges he lifted her skirt and fondled
her buttocks during the photo op, has said she knew
who had assaulted her.
Her lawyer, Doug Baldridge , told the jury that four
members of Swift's team were in the room where the
photo was taken, and knew immediately something
wrong had happened.
"It's not inappropriate touching. It's an assault,"
Baldridge said.
He said Mueller, who was 51 at the time of the
incident, has changed his story seven times since it
occurred. "This side has never changed its position," he
said.
According to Baldridge, Mueller had destroyed five
laptops or cell phones that may have contained
recorded evidence of his meeting with KYGO
executives, possibly including other references to the
DJ's behavior that the radio station was not happy
with.
Jurors hearing the case were picked earlier in the day
from a pool of 16 prospective jurors.
Swift and her mother, Andrea Swift, watched while
they were asked if they were familiar with the
circumstances of the civil case.
They were questioned specifically about their
familiarity with either Swift or Mueller and whether
they considered themselves to be fans of their work.
Some fans were in the courtroom, but the celebrity
trial has so far not drawn big crowds, and many of the
32 seats reserved for the public were empty.
"I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan. This is a huge event and
it's exciting to be a part of it," said Jacquelyn Evans, 32,
an unemployed food safety specialist.
Arthur Lewis, also 32 and a real estate agent, said he's
"a big supporter of Taylor Swift and just wanted to check
it out."
Swift, who appeared in court wearing a dark suit over
a bluish-green blouse, has said she will donate any
damages awarded in her suit to charities that fight
sexual assault on women.

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