David Mueller was fired from two jobs prior to his termination by KYGO over an allegation that he groped Taylor Swift before a Denver concert, he testified Wednesday under questioning by Swift’s lawyer.
And although KYGO fired him when there were only five months left on his two-year contract, valued at about $320,000, his lawsuit .
Jeff Kandyba via AP
In this sketch by courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba, pop singer Taylor Swift, left, and a defense attorney look on as former radio host David Mueller, background right, speaks during a civil trial in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Swift alleges that Mueller touched her during a concert meet-and-greet in 2013. The case went to court after Mueller sued Swift, claiming her false accusation cost him his job. He is seeking at least $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, claiming sexual assault.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Borrowing a line from one of her songs, workers put up a sign in support of pop singer Taylor Swift in the window of an office building across the street from the federal courthouse Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Denver. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Lauren Simpson, center, jokes with her husband, Ian, both of Provo, Ut., as they stand at the front of the line for public access to the courtroom for 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. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Arthur Lewis, center, of Denver, talks to television reporter as Lewis waits in a public line to view 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. Former DJ David Mueller sued Swift after she said he touched her backside before a concert in Denver in 2013. He's seeking at least $3 million. Swift countersued for sexual assault and is seeking $1.
Tree Paine, Taylor Swift's publicist second from the left, walks with associates from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse after the second day of the Taylor Swift David Mueller trial on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver.
In this courtroom sketch, pop singer Taylor Swift, left, appears with her lawyer and mother in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Swift alleges that radio host David Mueller touched her during a concert meet-and-greet in 2013. The case went to court after Mueller sued Swift, claiming her false accusation cost him his job. He is seeking at least $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, claiming sexual assault.
Jeff Kandyba via AP
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'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, The Associated Press
In this sketch provided by courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba, former radio host David Mueller appears in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Pop singer Taylor Swift alleges that Mueller touched her during a concert meet-and-greet in 2013. The case went to court after Mueller sued Swift, claiming her false accusation cost him his job. He is seeking at least $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, claiming sexual assault.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba holds his drawing up for media outside the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. It is the second day in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A sign directs people who want to attend the civil trial of Taylor Swift and David Mueller at the U.S. District Court in Denver on Aug. 7, 2017.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Fans line up to go inside the courtroom at Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. It is the second day in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A federal police officer takes a photo of a sign, where people wrote 'Free Tay!' with sticky notes, in an office window across the street from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. It is the second day in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift's lead attorney Douglas Baldridge, center, walks with associates from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse after the second day of the Taylor Swift David Mueller trial on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
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.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
People wrote 'Free Tay!' with sticky notes in an office window across the street from the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection continues, during the second day, in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A man takes a photo of the sign outside Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 7, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection began in the trial Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Federal police wait outside the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse as media stands under tents on Aug. 7, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection began in the trail Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Dani Kuta, a 17-year-old from Denver, smiles as she heads back to wait in a public line 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.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift's publicist Tree Paine, center, walks into the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 7, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection began in the trial of Taylor Swift against Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Tree Paine, Taylor Swift's publicist center, walks into Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 7, 2017 in Denver. Jury selection began in the trail Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Media takes images of drawing from courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba outside the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse on Aug. 8, 2017 in Denver. It is the second day in the trail of Taylor Swift against a Colorado radio personality, David Mueller, over allegations the former disc jockey fondled her four years ago.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift plays the Pepsi Center in September.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 during her Red Tour stop in Denver at Pepsi Center.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Taylor Swift performs to a sold out crowd June 2, 2013 at Denver's Pepsi Center.
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
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.
Jeff Kandyba via AP
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In this sketch by courtroom artist Jeff Kandyba, pop singer Taylor Swift, left, and a defense attorney look on as former radio host David Mueller, background right, speaks during a civil trial in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver. Swift alleges that Mueller touched her during a concert meet-and-greet in 2013. The case went to court after Mueller sued Swift, claiming her false accusation cost him his job. He is seeking at least $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, claiming sexual assault.
Mueller, a morning talk show host at the station, was fired on June 4, two days after he met with Swift before a concert and allegedly stuck his hand under her dress and grabbed her buttocks.
, her mother, Andrea Swift, and Frank Bell, her radio promotions manager, saying they cost him his job. , accusing Mueller of assault and battery.
Mueller, now 55, was fired from KDWB in Minneapolis seven years before he joined the Denver radio station. The Minneapolis station fired him because they were dissatisfied that he continued to work at a business he formed called 9 Ball Radio, which provided content to radio stations.
Swiftap lawyer J. Douglas Baldridge, also questioned Mueller about being fired from a Kansas City radio station.
He was fired “without cause,” and KRBZ bought him out, Mueller said.
Mueller maintains that although he applied at top 20 market radio stations after he was fired, he was unable to find new job following Swiftap allegation and being fired from KYGO.
Baldridge asked Mueller why he hadn’t applied at stations that weren’t in the top 20, and Mueller said he did apply at a few.
When Baldridge asked if being fired in Kansas City could have damaged his chances to get a job, Mueller replied, “theoretically, it could.”
Baldridge then referred to Mueller’s testimony in a sworn deposition in which he said that firing had hurt him, saying, “I can’t imagine it didn’t.”
In the course of testimony about his job history, Baldridge repeatedly called on Mueller to say whether his clients were responsible for his being fired.
He answered no.
Mueller’s lawsuit claims that Hershell Coomer, one of his bosses at KYGO known as “Eddie Haskell,” said he had groped Swift that night. But Mueller didn’t bring that up when he was fired or any other time before he sued Swift.
And “you talked to him on the phone three times, and never said, ‘I’m in trouble here, you said you put your hands on her rear end’,” Baldridge told Mueller.
“I never said anything to Eddie,” Mueller replied.
Swift showed little emotion during Wednesday’s testimony, reacting only occasionally during Mueller’s account.
She occasionally shook her head, grimaced, shared a look with her mother or wrote a hurried note to her mother or legal team.
