Taylor Swift Wins Sexual Assault Case and Vows to 'Help Those Whose Voices Should Also Be Heard' (UPDATE)

Taylor Swift has promised to donate money to multiple organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.

August 15, 2017

UPDATE 8/15/17 11:00 a.m. ET: A Denver judge ruled in Taylor Swift's favor on Monday, awarding the singer $1 million in damages stemming from an incident with DJ David Mueller. The U.S. District Court determined Mueller "assaulted" and "battered" Swift in a 2013 incident, leading to the major victory in court years later.

Following her court victory, Swift released a statement to the public, emphasizing that she hoped to help others ensure their voices are heard when faced with similar circumstances.

"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," said Swift. "Therefore, I will be making donations in the near future to multiple organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves."

Read below for original story published on 8/11/17.

Former radio host David Mueller's lawsuit against Taylor Swift has been thrown out by a Denver judge. Mueller insisted that Swift's allegations that he had groped her cost him his job and ruined his career. He was seeking $3 million in damages. U.S. District Judge William Martinez handed down the dismissal on Friday.

Swift's civil suit against Mueller over the groping, which has been ongoing for four years, stems from an incident that took place in 2013 during a meet-and-greet following a concert in Denver. Swift testified that Mueller "grabbed my ass underneath my skirt. It was underneath my skirt." Swift also remarked, "He did not touch my hand. He grabbed my bare ass. He stayed latched on to my bare ass...as I moved away from him visibly uncomfortable." Mueller denies he assaulted the massively popular singer.

A photo from the event seems to support Swift's allegations.

Taylor symbolically counter-sued the former DJ for $1. Swift's attorney J. Douglas Baldridge remarked, "She’s just trying to tell people out there that you can say no when someone puts their hand on you. Grabbing a woman’s rear end is an assault, and it’s always wrong. Any woman—rich, poor, famous, or not—is entitled to have that not happen." Swift testified that a "light switched off in my personality" after the assault.