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Stephen Baldwin sues Kevin Costner over BP oil spill deal

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    Jury selection starts in legal battle between Hollywood stars

  • Duration 5:39
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To Hollywood stars locked in a legal battle over a business linked to the 2010.

Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico jury selection started today in fact actor Stephen Baldwin claims that fellow actors Kevin Costner cheated him out of millions of dollars.

You may remember the back story we covered -- -- a bit Kevin Costner at this company called ocean therapy solutions.

It developed a device that was to separate oil and water.

-- the company signed a deal -- BP.

In an effort to help BP clean up its massive disasters mess.

Eighteen million dollars as -- deposit and potentially 52 million dollars in total but Alec Baldwin claims Kevin Costner duped him.

It is selling his shares by keeping eyes and said I meant to say Stephen Baldwin.

By keeping him in the dark about the deal.

-- caller's following this from our west because he's about how exactly to Stephen Baldwin say Kevin Costner duped him.

Well Stephen -- said the Kevin -- never told -- that he set up a meeting with BP and then even after he struck that -- -- Baldwin says -- never told -- struck the deal.

In fact he used that eighteen million dollar deposit -- mentioned.

To buyout the shares of Stephen Baldwin and Baldwin's partner Baldwin got one point four million the partner got 500000 now.

Kevin Costner says he didn't go to the meeting -- BP and that he was both surprised and defended that Stephen Baldwin and his partner walked away with two million dollars when neither one of them invested.

In the company to begin -- Did Kevin Costner's will separate letters even work -- -- we covered them at the time and I never heard an answer to that.

First they didn't never the oil was just so thick it -- gum up the machines -- little later on they worked a little bit better but not nearly as good as Kevin Costner said they were gonna work remember that's.

That's what this machine was intended for.

To be a first line of defense against oil spills.

It enabled us to protect an ecosystem.

That cannot protect itself and.

But the truth is critics say the Kevin Costner is technology was no better than any other technology on the market at the time but because of -- -- celebrity and as high profile lobbying.

That he's the one they got pushed to the front of the line.

Today in court as jury selection began all the potential jurors said that neither Kevin Costner celebrity nor Stephen Baldwin's.

Would sway their decision one bit the -- by the way just resumed a couple.

Minutes ago she -- thanks a lot of trial of course being held down in New Orleans and let's give the legal panel Fox News senior judicial analyst at -- of all time I was here.

-- with its attorney Randy Zell and his former prosecutors well.

Judge what what on the merits of this how do you see it well -- -- people ask the court to throw out the case which is standard for defendants to do that.

And the basis for their statement was say you know we didn't keep mr.

ball one from knowing what was going on -- the same access to the same information we did.

And by the way when we bought back his shares in this venture.

He signed a piece of paper saying that we welcome back -- a fair market price and it wouldn't sue us for anything having to do with this sale.

He on the other hand says you kept me in the dark you negotiated these deals and eighteen million dollar down payment.

On something that was eventually gonna sell for 52 million had I known about that.

My shares would have been worth a million that would have been worth about fifteen million so that's what I'm entitled to now the judge basically said.

You reach them a round that witness stand in each can tell your version of events of the jury and the jury will decide which of you would beliefs Randy do you think he has it has a case here.

It's going to be very very difficult because when you are talking about fraud fraud has to be argued alleged -- particular clarity you can't simply say.

You screwed me and then that's the end of it you've got to do a lot more so here they really have to hurdles because you have the underlying deal.

Did Kevin Costner lied.

Did he willfully omit things so you have the underlying hey I'll buy -- he shares all did I forget to mention the company's worth a lot more.

Then you have to also argue that when you gave -- this release the sign.

In in consideration for the two million that I'm getting that I lied to get you to.

Sign this release so I think -- dealing with sophisticated people who knew what they were doing had the opportunity to look at everything I think he's got a tough -- to help.

You wonder -- a jury might say.

You know he's he's -- -- and make more money.

Well he probably is -- I would take -- money because you know -- it was an investment in which he believes that he was entitled to a lot more money it really is a question of a believability who does the jury believe because in the effort to throw the case out.

The judge reviews the allegations in the judge reviews the laws or -- so nicely.

A stated what the law is the judge basically said in this case it's very well known very well respected federal trial judges been involved a lot of cases involving BP in the oil spill in the gulf.

A jury is gonna have to call it but I'll tell you what.

You guys -- not just gonna send your expensive lawyers in the courtroom -- going to sit here yourselves.

And watch all the testimony in this case.

And then about after two or three days I'm gonna say hey guys you want -- sample but he is still wanna keep gone through this got a bit unsettling Randy.

Yeah but I it.

It's a great point by the judge that's why he's making them sit there because they have better things to do their time -- -- that sits in a corporate who has been the critical piece of evidence in this case is going to be whether or not.

Costner and his crew were thinking about getting rid of them and took affirmative steps to get rid of them.

On the heels of this deal coming down you know movies -- -- watch done in the -- thank you guys partnership.

A court has convicted four men of.

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