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Jury selection starts in La Conchita landslide case
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More from County NewsJury selection began Tuesday in a wrongful death and property damage lawsuit stemming from a 2005 landslide that killed 10 people and destroyed 13 homes in La Conchita.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Vincent O'Neill told prospective jurors that the trial could last two to four months.
He said 12 jurors and six alternate jurors will be selected for the trial.
There are 36 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, the judge said. They include homeowners, residents of La Conchita, injured parties and the families of those who died in the landslide.
Defendants include the County of Ventura and La Conchita Ranch Co.
After days of heavy rain, on Jan. 10, 2005, a hill collapsed behind the seaside hamlet in western Ventura County.
On Tuesday, the judge addressed prospective jurors who were packed inside a large courtroom and told them that they should know by today whether they will serve as one of the jurors or alternates.
O'Neill also read aloud the names of the victims and plaintiffs in the case to determine if people in the jury pool knew them, which could be a potential conflict if they serve as jurors.
O'Neill also read to the jury panel the names of more than 200 witnesses who are expected to testify during the trial.
"The key point is to keep an open mind at all times during the trial" and not begin making any conclusions about the case until all the evidence is submitted, O'Neill told the jury panel.
Nearly a dozen lawyers are involved in the case, including plaintiffs' attorney Anthony Murray of Los Angeles and defense attorney Robert Ceccon of Los Angeles, who is representing the county.
Attorneys have declined to comment on the case because, they said, the judge issued a gag order last week.
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