Jury selection starts in beaten Giants fan lawsuit

Jury selection has begun in Los Angeles for the trial of a lawsuit over the beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium after the March 2011 opening day game between the rival teams.

Stow, a Santa Cruz resident, watched from a wheelchair Tuesday as prospective jurors were instructed to fill out questionnaires. Stow, who was a paramedic at the time, suffered disabling brain damage in the beating.

The civil liability and negligence suit seeks millions of dollars in damages from the Los Angeles Dodgers and former owner Frank McCourt.

Lawyers have estimated that Stow’s lifetime care could cost $50 million.

The two men who beat Stow pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Louie Sanchez, 31, pleaded guilty to a felony count of mayhem and was sentenced to eight years in prison, while Marvin Norwood pleaded guilty to assault with likelihood to produce great bodily injury. He was sentenced to four years in prison. Under a plea agreement, all other charges against the pair were dropped.

The two men also face federal weapons charges and are scheduled for trial on those charges in September, according to court records.