By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — Jury selection in the wrongful death case of New York Yankee Cory Lidle's widow began Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, according to reports.
The widow, Melanie Lidle, brought a civil claim against the manufacturer of the plane that crashed into an East 72nd Street condo building on Oct. 11, 2006, killing her husband and a flight instructor.
She claimed her husband, who died at age 34, stood to make millions as a major league pitcher during the last years of his career.
The company, Cirrus Design Corp., has denied wrongdoing and is fighting the claims, according to reports. They have said there were no defects in the infrastructure of the plane.
Opening statements are expected to begin Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Lower Manhattan in front of Judge Barbara Jones.
The judge ruled Monday that Lidle's former teammates, including Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Jason Giambi, will not be permitted to testify, according to the New York Post.