Battle Over Giant Emerald Returns To LA Court

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A handful of people who have laid claim to a gigantic emerald worth nearly $400 million are returning to a Los Angeles court.

Trial to determine the gem's true owner began in September but was continued until Tuesday by Judge John A. Kronstadt.

Anthony Thomas says he bought the 840-pound Bahia emerald for $60,000 soon after it was dug up in the jungles of Brazil in 2001. He says it was stolen before he could ship it home to California.

Since then several people have emerged to say they bought the emerald in the years since. They say Thomas never officially gained possession of it.

The judge will eventually determine the owner.

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