Jury Selection in Taylor Swift Trial Begins Monday

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, August 7, 2017

Taylor Swift

Jury selection begins Monday in the trial between former KYGO-FM air talent David Mueller (aka Jackson) and singer Taylor Swift in Denver. Mueller filed suit in U.S. District Court against Swift in September, 2015 seeking lost wages for allegedly getting him fired after Swift claimed that he lifted her skirt and grabbed her bottom during a VIP meet and greet before her concert in June, 2013. In October, 2015, Swift filed a countersuit claiming sexual assault against the former air talent. She is expected to testify.

Opening statements could begin as soon as Tuesday and the case is expected to last two weeks. Swift is seeking a verdict that awards damages of only one dollar, while holding Mueller responsible and "serving as an example to other women who may resist publicly reliving similar outrageous and humiliating acts," her lawsuit said. Mueller is seeking $3 million in lost wages and is also expected to testify.

Mueller, then 51, was assigned to attend Swift's concert at the Pepsi Center in Denver back in 2103. Mueller was backstage with his girlfriend when they met with Swift, then 23, in a curtained enclosure. Shortly after the alleged incident, Mueller and co-worker Shannon Melcher were removed from the concert grounds. Then, the lawsuit said, Swift's management team contacted station management and had him fired.

"The contention that Mr. Mueller lifted up Ms. Swift's skirt and grabbed her bottom, while standing with his girlfriend, in front of Ms. Swift's photographer and Ms. Swift's highly trained security personnel, during a company sponsored, VIP, backstage meet-and-greet, is nonsense, particularly given that Ms. Swift's skirt is in place and is not being lifted by Mr. Mueller's hand in the photograph," the lawsuit said. Mueller maintains he never inappropriately touched Swift and that the photo that was described as "damning" by Swift's managers, is anything but.

According to Swift's countersuit, Mueller admitted Swift was assaulted but blamed "his superior" at KYGO, Eddie Haskell. However, the countersuit claimed that "Ms. Swift knows exactly who committed the assault -- it was Mueller -- and she is not confused in the slightest about whether her long-term business acquaintance, Mr. Haskell, was the culprit."

"Resolution of this counterclaim will demonstrate that Mueller alone was the perpetrator of the humiliating and wrongful conduct targeted against Ms. Swift," the countersuit alleged, "and will serve as an example to other women who may resist publicly reliving similar outrageous and humiliating acts."

The papers allege that "Mueller did not merely brush his hand against Ms. Swift while posing for the photograph, he lifted her skirt and groped her." After the alleged incident, Swift was "surprised, upset, offended and alarmed," and informed her photographer, tour manager and security team.

No public seating will be available in the courtroom during jury selection, but limited seating will be available once the trial begins on Tuesday, reports FOX 31 in Denver.