Taylor Swift's groping trial brings line of fans eager to watch her case against ex-radio DJ in Colorado
The DJ denies that he did anything wrong, and has sued Swift for 'recklessly' ruining his career
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Your support makes all the difference.Taylor Swift fans have lined up for seats to see the opening arguments in the civil trial in which she has alleged that a Colorado DJ inappropriately groped her while at a meet and greet in Denver.
Ex-radio host David Mueller first brought a lawsuit against Swift - who is countersuing - alleging that the pop star recklessly ruined his radio career with false accusations of inappropriate touching.
Some of the Swift fans outside hoping to nab one of the 32 seats that had been made available to the public, said they felt inspired by the pop star's decision to fight back against athe alleged sexual assault.
“I think it's pretty cool that she's here to defend herself in person and not just kind of passing it off,“ Jacquelyn Evans, a 32-year-old fan from Denver, told CNN. ”It shows that it's a serious issue to her and it's a really great experience for girls to see her come out and do that.”
Swift and her lawyers allege that Mr Mueller had reached up under her skirt, and grabbed her buttocks while the pop star was posing with fans for photos. After the alleged groping in June 2013, Mr Mueller lost his job several days later when Swift and her team complained to his employer, radio station KYGO. The station says they conducted their own investigation into the issue.
In his lawsuit, Mr Mueller says that he should not have been terminated, and that Swift has used her considerable power to ruin his life. During opening arguments in the case, Mr Mueller’s lawyer said that a photo that is likely to be central to both sides’ arguments simply shows “awkward” hand placement, but does not show Mr Mueller reaching up under her skirt.
The photo shows Mr Mueller alongside Swift and another woman. Mr Mueller’s lawyers have argued that the photo doesn’t show any ruffles in the skirt, which they say would be apparent if he did what they were alleging.
“If you look at that photo, his hand is not underneath her skirt. It's not ruffled, rumbled, affected in any form or fashion,” Gabriel McFarland, Mr Mueller’s lawyer, argued.
Swift’s lawyers have argued that Mr Mueller is simply using his client’s name and fame to make a bigger name for himself, and to get a big payday. Mr Mueller is seeking $3 million in damages.
The pop star’s counter-lawsuit argues that she is pursuing the avenue because the case will “serve as an example to other women who may resist publicly reliving similar outrageous and humiliating acts.”
Any money gleaned from the lawsuit, the counter-lawsuit says, will be donated to charitable organisations that protect women from sexual assault.
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