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Happy birthday Lilly Anna Smith!

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Dallas Area teacher claims sexual discrimination spurred demotion

<p>DENVER (AP) &#8212; Taylor Swift testified Thursday that a former radio DJ reached under her skirt and intentionally grabbed her backside underneath her skirt during a meet-and-a-greet photo session before a 2013 concert in Denver.</p><p>&#8220;He stayed attached to my bare ass-cheek as I lurched away from him,&#8221; the pop star testified in federal court during a trial over the claim.</p><p>Despite being stunned, Swift said she did not say anything to David Mueller about it because she did not want other fans lined up to hear anything and she did not want to cancel the event and disappoint them.</p><p>Swift said she tried to get as far away from Mueller as she could. She said she told Mueller and his girlfriend, Shannon Melcher, who was also in the photo, &#8220;thank you for coming&#8221; in a monotone voice before they left.</p><p>David Mueller sued Swift and others on her team, claiming they cost him his job and is seeking up to $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, alleging sexual assault, and is asking for a symbolic $1 judgment.</p><p>Swift said a security guard working for her witnessed the groping.</p><p>She testified guard Greg Dent saw David Mueller &#8220;lift my skirt&#8221; and grab her but that it was it was impossible for anyone to see Mueller&#8217;s hand beneath her skirt and on her buttock because they were posing for the photo with their backs to a wall.</p><p>Swift said that someone would have had to have been underneath her to see the actual groping &#8220;and we didn&#8217;t have anyone positioned there.&#8221;</p><p>Mueller testified Wednesday that the photo taken before the concert was &#8220;weird and awkward,&#8221; but he insisted that he touched Swift in the ribs, not in the rear.</p><p>Mueller testified his hand was touching Swift&#8217;s skirt after he put his arm around her and their arms got crossed: &#8220;My hand was at rib-cage level and apparently it went down.&#8221;</p><p>The case is being tried in federal court under a law allowing the proceeding when the parties live in separate states and the dispute involves a damages claim higher than $75,000.</p><p>____</p><p>Associated Press writer P. Solomon Banda contributed to this report.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">In this courtroom sketch, pop singer Taylor Swift, front left, confers with her attorney as David Mueller, back left, and the judge look on during a civil trial in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Mueller, a former radio disc jockey accused of groping Swift before a concert testified Tuesday that he may have touched the pop superstar&#8217;s ribs with a closed hand as he tried to jump into a photo with her but insisted he did not touch her backside as she claims. (Jeff Kandyba via AP) </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_117948205-bd2b50ca43144af9b9c8faf860b1ee95.jpg</photo0><caption0>In this courtroom sketch, pop singer Taylor Swift, front left, confers with her attorney as David Mueller, back left, and the judge look on during a civil trial in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Mueller, a former radio disc jockey accused of groping Swift before a concert testified Tuesday that he may have touched the pop superstar&#8217;s ribs with a closed hand as he tried to jump into a photo with her but insisted he did not touch her backside as she claims. (Jeff Kandyba via AP) </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_117948205-2291feb12f88479794f4b6d813fdc41c.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tree Paine, publicist for pop singer Taylor Swift, heads back to a hotel after the second day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer in a case in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_117948205-2291feb12f88479794f4b6d813fdc41c.jpg</photo1><caption1>Tree Paine, publicist for pop singer Taylor Swift, heads back to a hotel after the second day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer in a case in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_117948205-613221bf1e6048e8857b2b06deff30f0.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A court officer directs members of the public into the federal courthouse to view the afternoon session of the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_117948205-613221bf1e6048e8857b2b06deff30f0.jpg</photo2><caption2>A court officer directs members of the public into the federal courthouse to view the afternoon session of the third day of a civil trial to determine whether a radio host groped pop singer Taylor Swift in a case in federal court Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)</caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>

Taylor Swift testifies former DJ groped her under her skirt