Jury rules Swift was groped by radio DJ

A Denver jury decided on Monday that a country radio DJ did grope Taylor Swift before her concert in 2013, awarding the pop star a symbolic $1 after a weeklong trial.

Two years ago, former KYGO radio host David Mueller sued Swift, claiming he was fired after the singer and her team accused him of lifting her dress and touching her buttocks during a meet-and-greet photo backstage at the Pepsi Arena. Mueller denied doing anything inappropriate and sought up to $3 million in damages. Swift then countersued for assault and battery, and asked for $1 in damages — demonstrating that her lawsuit was not about money, and as her attorney said during closing arguments on Monday, represents the fact that “no means no, and it tells every woman that they will determine what is tolerable to their body.”

After the verdict was announced, Swift released a statement through her publicist:

On Friday, Judge Martinez threw out Mueller’s claim against Swift, and ruled that the singer could not be held personally responsible for Mueller losing his job. He allowed claims against Swift’s mother, Andrea Swift, and radio representative, Frank Bell (who contacted Mueller’s radio station boss after the concert) to go forward — but the jury found that they were also not liable for Mueller’s termination.

The jury deliberated for four hours before coming to a conclusion, according to BuzzFeed reporter Claudia Rosenbaum, who was at the courthouse; she added that Swift’s mother started crying and hugged Swift when the verdict was announced.

This marks the end of a trial that drew international coverage.