Jury Finds For Taylor, Awards Her $1

A federal jury in Denver yesterday found that Taylor Swift was the victim of assault and battery by former KYGO/Denver morning co-host David Mueller when he groped her at a meet-and-greet ahead of a June 2013 concert, and also found that Taylor’s mother Andrea Swift and Frank Bell did not interfere with Mueller’s employment. The jury also awarded Swift the $1 she had sought in her counterclaim in the suit. Mueller was awarded nothing because the jury found against him. Taylor hugged her mother and attorneys after the verdict read, and her mother, Andrea, wept. Courtroom reporters said Mueller did not even glance at his attorneys as the verdict was read. The jury’s decision came on the sixth day of the trial.

Not long after the verdict was delivered, Swift’s camp released a statement, which read, “I want to thank Judge William J. Martinez and the jury for their careful consideration, my attorneys Doug Baldridge, Danielle Foley, Jay Schaudies and Katie Wright for fighting for me and anyone who feels silenced by a sexual assault, and especially anyone who offered their support throughout this four-year ordeal and two-year long trial process.” Swift continued, “I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this. My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard. Therefore, I will be making donations in the near future to multiple organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.” CNN’s Scott McLean spoke with Mueller on the phone Monday night. “My heart is still set on proving my innocence,” Mueller said. “I’m resolute.”

A tip of the hat to Blair Miller and others from Denver’s ABC affiliate KMGH-TV for the awesome live-blogging job throughout the six-day trial.