The Latest: DJ in Taylor Swift case: Court was only option

Workers in support of pop singer Taylor Swift in office across from the federal courthouse put up a new sign as the jury gets the case in the civil trial involving the singer in a case in federal court Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, in Denver. While the judge has cleared the pop singer, her mother, Andrea, and the singer's radio liaison are still facing allegations that they set out to have a radio host fired for allegedly groping Swift at a photo op before a concert in Denver in 2013. The eight-person jury is expected to decide on that case as well as consider the assault allegation leveled by the singer. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Workers in support of pop singer Taylor Swift in office across from the federal courthouse put up a new sign as the jury gets the case in the civil trial involving the singer in a case in federal court Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, in Denver. While the judge has cleared the pop singer, her mother, Andrea, and the singer's radio liaison are still facing allegations that they set out to have a radio host fired for allegedly groping Swift at a photo op before a concert in Denver in 2013. The eight-person jury is expected to decide on that case as well as consider the assault allegation leveled by the singer. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — The Latest on a civil trial involving Taylor Swift and a former DJ she accused of groping her (all times local):

6 p.m.

A former Denver radio host accused of groping Taylor Swift says after losing his civil case that going to court was his only option.

David Mueller had sued Swift, saying the allegation cost him his career and his reputation. He said Monday after a jury found in the pop star’s favor that he has been trying to clear his name for the past four years.

Swift countersued for assault and battery and sought a symbolic $1 and the chance to stand up for other women.

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A jury determined that Mueller had groped Swift. Jurors also found that Swift’s mother, Andrea Swift, and radio liaison, Frank Bell, were within their rights to contact Mueller’s bosses about the allegation.

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5:35 p.m.

Taylor Swift hugged her crying mother after jurors decided that a radio host groped the pop star during a pre-concert photo op four years ago.

After the jury sided with her Monday, the singer sent out a statement thanking her team for fighting for her and “anyone who feels silenced by a sexual assault.”

The jury also determined that Swift’s mother, Andrea Swift, and radio liaison, Frank Bell, were within their rights to contact fired DJ David Mueller’s bosses about the allegation.

Mueller sued over his ruined career, and the singer-songwriter filed a countersuit seeking the chance to stand up for other women.

In her statement, Swift acknowledged her privileged position and said she hopes to help “those whose voices should also be heard.” She says she’ll be donating to organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.

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4:50 p.m.

Taylor Swift has won long-awaited vindication after a jury decided that a radio host groped her during a pre-concert photo op four years ago.

After a weeklong trial over dueling lawsuits, jurors determined Monday that fired Denver DJ David Mueller assaulted the pop star by grabbing her backside during a backstage meet-and-greet.

The six-woman, two-man jury also found that Swift’s mother and radio liaison were within their rights to contact Mueller’s bosses.

Mueller sued the Swifts and their radio handler, Frank Bell, seeking up to $3 million for his ruined career.

Just before closing arguments, the judge dismissed Taylor Swift from Mueller’s lawsuit and drastically reduced the amount Mueller could collect.

The singer-songwriter said in her countersuit that she wanted a symbolic $1 and the chance to stand up for other women.

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4:40 p.m.

Jurors have reached a verdict in dueling lawsuits over Taylor Swift’s allegation that a radio host groped her during a backstage meet-and-greet in 2013.

The decision by six-woman, two-man jury will be read Monday in U.S. court in Denver.

It comes after a weeklong trial. Denver DJ David Mueller sued the pop star, her mother and their radio handler, Frank Bell, after he was fired, seeking up to $3 million for his ruined career.

Just before closing arguments, the judge dismissed Taylor Swift from Mueller’s lawsuit and drastically reduced the amount Mueller could collect.

The singer-songwriter said in her countersuit that she wanted a symbolic $1 and the chance to stand up for other women.

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12:35 p.m.

The Taylor Swift groping case has headed to a jury in federal court in Denver.

The jury got the case for deliberations Monday after Swift’s attorney Douglas Baldridge questioned former DJ David Mueller’s credibility in closing arguments.

In dueling lawsuits, Swift said Mueller groped her at a backstage 2013 event and Mueller accused Swift, her mother and a Swift representative of getting him fired while denying the groping accusation.

Baldridge noted Mueller lost audio recordings he took secretly during a meeting with his bosses after he was fired from a Denver country music station.

He said that “no credibility goes with a story-changing, evidence-destroying aggressor like David Mueller.”

The eight-member jury must rule unanimously on Mueller’s claim that Andrea Swift and Frank Bell wrongly caused Mueller’s firing. A judge removed Swift as a defendant in the firing claim.

The jury also must reach a verdict on Swift’s counterclaim of assault and battery and her request for a symbolic $1 judgment.

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11:35 a.m.

Taylor Swift’s attorney says she’s standing up for all women in her federal lawsuit by taking on a man who she says groped her and is saying “No means no.”

In closing arguments Monday, lawyer Douglas Baldridge characterized the former DJ who sued Swift after he lost his job as an “aggressor.”

Former radio host David Mueller said Swift’s claim that he groped her at a 2013 pre-concert event in Denver is false and led to his being fired.

Baldridge asked jurors: “Will aggressors like David Mueller be allowed to victimize their victims?”

Citing Swift’s counterclaim alleging assault and battery, Baldridge asks jurors to “return a verdict for a single dollar, a single symbolic dollar, the value of which is immeasurable to all women in this situation.”

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11:30 a.m.

Taylor Swift cried during part of closing arguments in her civil trial alleging that a former radio DJ groped her before a 2013 concert.

The lawyer for former DJ David Mueller, Gabriel McFarland, questioned Monday whether the pop star’s smiling face in a photo she appeared in with Mueller was the face of someone who was upset.

Swift’s mother, Andrea Swift, touched her daughter’s right leg as Swift cried and wiped her face in federal court in Denver. Her lawyer also rubbed her back.

Andrea Swift touched Swift’s hand as McFarland said the photograph taken during the meet-and-greet in meant nothing.

Swift testified the photo was taken just as she was groped by Mueller, who denies the allegation.

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11:10 a.m.

A lawyer for the former radio DJ accused of groping Taylor Swift says the pop star’s account is inconsistent with every other Swift team member’s testimony and with a photo taken at the time of the alleged incident.

During closing arguments in Denver federal court Monday, attorney Gabriel McFarland told jurors Monday that David Mueller “is not the guy” who groped Swift during a photo op before a 2013 concert.

He argued that Swift’s smiling face in the photo contradicts her testimony that she was groped the instant the photo was taken.

McFarland also cast doubt on a Swift security guard’s claim that he saw Mueller touch Swift but did not act because he did not think she was in danger.

He also said the photographer who took the image “started it all” by pulling a photo of Mueller and his girlfriend with Swift from dozens she took during a meet-and-greet and showing it to Swift, who identified Mueller as the person who touched her.

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10:20 a.m.

Closing arguments are underway in the civil trial involving Taylor Swift and the former radio DJ she accuses of groping her before a 2013 concert.

A lawyer for ex-DJ David Mueller, Gabriel McFarland, made his case to jurors first on Monday morning in Denver federal court.

Before arguments began, Judge William Martinez told jurors that a preponderance of evidence is needed to return a verdict.

The verdict form asks if Frank Bell, a radio liaison for Taylor Swift, and Andrea Swift intentionally caused Mueller to be fired from his job.

It also asks in Swift’s counterclaim if Mueller assaulted or battered Swift.

The judge threw out Mueller’s case against Taylor Swift on Friday.

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9:10 a.m.

Taylor Swift, her mother Andrea Swift, and former radio DJ David Mueller are back in a federal courtroom in Denver federal as the judge and attorneys for her groping case review instructions for the jury.

Monday’s review is taking place outside the presence of the eight-member jury, which will be called in later in the morning to hear closing arguments.

Swift alleges Mueller groped her before a 2013 concert and he denies the allegation.

A judge ruled Friday Mueller did not prove Swift personally tried to end his career. Identical allegations against Andrea Swift and Frank Bell are expected to go to jurors.

Mueller sued the three after Swift’s team reported the encounter to his bosses. He sought up to $3 million in damages. The judge ruled that he did not make a case for recovering that much money.

Swift countersued for a symbolic $1. The jury will consider her assault claim.

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9 a.m.

Lawyers are expected to make closing arguments Monday in a trial over allegations that a former radio host groped Taylor Swift before a 2013 Denver concert.

The former DJ alleges in a competing federal lawsuit that the star’s mother and radio liaison tried to destroy his career.

A federal judge ruled Friday that former DJ David Mueller did not prove Swift personally tried to end his career.

Identical allegations against Andrea Swift and Frank Bell are expected to go to jurors.

Mueller sued the three after Swift’s team reported the encounter to his bosses. He sought up to $3 million in damages. The judge ruled that he did not make a case for recovering that much money.

Swift countersued for a symbolic $1. The jury will consider her assault claim.

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7:55 a.m.

Lawyers are expected to make closing arguments Monday in a trial over allegations that a former radio host groped Taylor Swift backstage before a 2013 Denver concert.

The former DJ alleges in a competing federal lawsuit that the star’s mother and radio liaison set out to destroy his career.

A federal judge ruled Friday that former DJ David Mueller did not prove Swift personally tried to end his career.

But identical allegations against Andrea Swift and Frank Bell are expected to go to jurors.

Mueller sued the three after Swift’s team reported the 2013 encounter to his bosses. He’s seeking up to $3 million, saying the allegation cost him his job.

Swift countersued for a symbolic $1. The jury will also consider her assault claim.

She called the encounter despicable.

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1:15 a.m.

Lawyers are expected to make closing arguments Monday in a trial concerning allegations that a former radio host groped Taylor Swift backstage before a concert in Denver, and competing allegations the singer’s mother and her radio liaison set out to destroy the DJ’s career after the photo op took place.

A federal judge on Friday determined that former DJ David Mueller didn’t prove that Swift personally tried to end his career, but identical allegations against Andrea Swift and Frank Bell are expected to go to jurors.

Mueller sued the three after Swift’s team reported the 2013 encounter to his bosses. He’s seeking up to $3 million, saying the allegation cost him his job.

Swift countersued for a symbolic $1. The jury will also consider her assault claim.

She called the encounter with Mueller despicable.