By Associated Press

HARLINGEN, Texas (AP) - Jury selection was delayed Monday in the first of more than 52 Texas lawsuits claiming that manufactured homes giant Clayton Homes Inc. forged signatures that put up land as collateral for the homes.

Plaintiffs attorney David Rumley said jury selection was scheduled to begin, but it was delayed because of a murder case in the same courthouse in San Diego, a small city in rural Duval County. Rumley said lawyers were meeting with the judge to reschedule the case.

The plaintiffs in the suit are seeking damages as high as 10 percent of the net worth of Kevin Clayton, CEO of the Maryville, Tenn.-based company.

Clayton and other family members have a majority interest in the company that was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in 2003 for $1.7 billion.

The company has denied wrongdoing.