DENVER (CN) – In a midtrial move late Friday, a federal judge dismissed a DJ’s claims that singer Taylor Swift ruined his career by accusing him of groping her at a meet-and-greet.
U.S. District Judge William Martinez dismissed David Mueller’s lawsuit against Swift, but the trial on Swift’s counterclaims against Mueller – including claims of sexual assault and battery – will continue Monday.
Mueller sued Swift over the loss of his $300,000 contract with radio station KYGO after Swift accused him of groping her at a meet-and-greet.
However, Mueller can continue with his tortious inference claims against Swift’s mother, Andrea Swift, and Swift’s radio promotions manager, Frank Bell.
Mueller’s 2015 lawsuit claims Andrea Swift and Bell pressured Lincoln Financial Media to fire Mueller by telling his boss that the station’s relationship with Taylor would be “gravely impacted” if something was not done about Mueller.
With jurors outside the courtroom on Friday afternoon, attorneys on both sides argued over whether Mueller had presented enough evidence to send his full case to the jury. Their debate – and Martinez’s questions – focused on whether Taylor Swift herself had done anything to get Mueller fired.
In the end, Martinez sided with Taylor Swift’s attorneys.
On Monday, jurors will hear closing arguments regarding Mueller’s claims against Taylor’s mother and Bell.
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