Lawyers for Taylor Swift said Tuesday the singer is a victim and shouldn’t be defending herself in court.
“What's wrong with this picture? A woman gets assaulted, a woman reports it, and she gets sued,” her lawyer Douglas Balridge told jurors, according to reporting on the case.
Former radio host David Mueller sued Swift, alleging that her claim that he groped her cost him his job and reputation. He is seeking at least $3 million U.S.
Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking a symbolic $1.
The country and pop superstar alleged Mueller put his hand on her buttocks during a backstage meet-and-greet photo op in 2013. Baldridge said Swift is “absolutely certain” of what happened.
As the trial got underway on Tuesday in Denver, Mueller’s lawyer said inappropriate touching is “wrong and should never be tolerated.” But, Gabriel McFarland said, so to is falsely accusing someone of inappropriate touching.
Mueller testified that he may have accidentally touched Swift’s ribcage with a closed hand when he jumped into the photo but insisted he did not touch her buttocks.
Jurors saw a photo that shows Mueller standing with a hand behind Swift, just below her waist. “His hand is not underneath Miss Swift’s skirt, and her skirt is not rumpled,” McFarland said.
In cross-examination, Baldridge asked Mueller what “reason, incentive or motive” Swift would have to make a false allegation against him.
Mueller replied: “I cannot.”
The trial continues.