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Opening Statements Begin In Bryan Stow Civil Suit Against Frank McCourt

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Opening statements began Thursday morning in Bryan Stow's civil lawsuit against former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.

Jury selection wrapped up Wednesday after lawyers read through jurors answers to a six-page questionnaire.

Eight men and eight women were ultimately chosen. All 16 jurors will hear the case, with four randomly selected at the end of testimony to serve as alternates.

Stow himself, sitting in a wheelchair surrounded by family, appeared in the courtroom for the jury selection process. He is not expected to testify during the trial.

"He's very, very uncomfortable. The pain of the lower body and so forth, just sitting in that wheelchair, causes a great deal of pain," attorney Thomas Girardi said.

The suit alleges the team was negligent for not having enough security at the March 2011 home opener when the San Francisco Giants fan was brutally attacked by two Dodger fans.

Rialto residents Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood are accused of repeatedly kicking Stow, of Santa Cruz, in the head in one of the Dodger Stadium parking lots after the game.

Both men accepted plea deals in February and were sentenced to prison.

Stow, now 45, nearly died in the attack and has permanent brain damage.

McCourt's legal team argues that the security at the stadium on Opening Day, 2011, was the largest single security force ever presented at Dodger Stadium, and that Stow had a blood alcohol level of over twice the legal driving limit.

Stow is said to be seeking damages of about $38 million and was not expected to attend opening statements, his attorney said.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

 

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