AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Sandra Bullock was in an Austin, Texas, courtroom for a battle with a local developer who claimed the actress failed to pay him for a lakefront home.
Bullock attended jury selection Wednesday in the suit filed against her by M.B. "Benny" Deneshjou, who claims she did not pay him for her $6.5 million Lake Austin home, E! Online reported Thursday. Bullock has countersued, claiming shoddy construction.
Travis County, Texas, District Judge Paul Davis banned cameras from the courtroom and told potential jurors Bullock should not be treated differently because of her celebrity.
"In the courtroom, I want her to be a regular person," Davis said.
Bullock hired Daneshjou in 1997 to build the luxury home and invested $300,000 in another development project with him.
Bullock was not happy with her home, claiming the residence needed thousands of dollars worth of major repairs, said court documents. The actress also accused Daneshjou of fraud for cheating her out of the investment.
Daneshjou blamed the home damage on the project manager.
