Wrongful Death Trial Begins For Former MÖTLEY CRÜE Drummer

Opening statements in a wrongful death civil trial involving former MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee were expected Tuesday after a jury was selected, according to the Associated Press.

The lawsuit claims Lee was negligent in the drowning of 4-year-old Daniel Karven-Veres, who was attending a swim party at the musician's Malibu home.

The boy, whose parents are actress Ursula Karven and TV producer James Veres, drowned June 16, 2001, during the poolside party for then 4-year-old Brandon, one of two sons Lee had with actress Pamela Anderson.

The 37-year-old Karven, most recently seen as Lisa Ryan in "Before I Say Goodbye", and Veres, who was the executive producer on a 1995 episode of the detective series, "Hart to Hart", claim Lee failed to have the pool supervised, then had no one who could perform CPR or administer simple first aid.

Lee had argued that Daniel Karven-Veres was brought to the party by his nanny but she left the party early. Daniel was then left in the care of nanny Judith Zeihm. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected Lee's bid to have Zeihm named as a co-defendant, citing lack of evidence.

Daniel was not found immediately because the pool was full of inflatable chairs and floating toys. A Los Angeles County coroner's autopsy found cause of death as asphyxia by drowning. The coroner ruled the death accidental.

Lee's attorney in the Santa Monica proceeding, Jim Barratta, said his client made several 911 calls to try to save Daniel. He described his client as "devastated (by the) tragic accident."

Lee, 40, put his home on the market in December for $3 million.