Opening arguments could begin this afternoon in a case involving the cholesterol drug Baycol.

According to court papers, retired engineer Hollis Haltom of Corpus Christi claims to suffer from rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle tissue that causes renal failure and liver damage. The condition is alleged to have appeared after Haltom took samples of Baycol for two weeks.

Bayer Corp., the company's North American pharmaceutical division and a pharmaceutical sales representative who gave samples to Haltom's physician, are defendants in the lawsuit.

Bayer removed Baycol from the U.S. market in August 2001.

Jury selection is expected to finish sometime this morning.