By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – A historic legal case will return to court this week. Alabama is once again challenging Exxon Mobil over royalties from natural gas wells along the Alabama coast. The state won a three-point-five billion-dollar jury verdict against the company in December of 2000. It was the largest verdict in Alabama history, but it was eventually thrown out. Jury selection for the retrial starts Wednesday. Opening statements are scheduled for October 20th. State officials have long discussed ways to spend the money they say Exxon owes Alabama. But the judge handling the case has told attorneys not to talk about the state's financial problems or the oil company's wealth.