A civil trial against the Ford Motor Company started with a marathon jury selection Monday.

The case is being held in circuit court in the Adams County Courthouse with Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders presiding.

The suit addresses the death of Natchez resident Raymond Yancy in 2002. Yancy’s Ford vehicle allegedly caught fire in an accident.

Jury selection lasted most of the day. Questions regarding potential jurors’ views on drunk driving and wearing seat belts and narrowed down the jury pool.

The case is about a man who was burned in a vehicle, attorney Deborah McDonald said Monday.

“We are alleging the vehicle was defective,” McDonald said. She had no further comments Monday.

Joe Reid, council for the Ford Motor Company, said the jury was finally selected soon before court was recessed, after 6 p.m. Monday.

Reid said he could not comment on further details because it was so early in the case.

“I think at this stage, it’s appropriate,” Reid said.

Circuit Clerk M.L. “Binkey” Vines said plans were in place in case the jury pool had to be expanded.

“The sheriff (was) going to hand-deliver (jury summons),” Vines said.

Potential jury members reported for duty, Vines said, but the selection process eliminated so many that officials were prepared to call in more. That did not happen.

Vines said he expected the trial to be a long one, lasting up to two weeks.