Unbiased jurors hard to find in suit against Houston Pastor Joel Osteen’s wife

HOUSTON — Some potential jurors in a suit alleging that the wife of nationally known Pastor Joel Osteen assaulted a flight attendant acknowledged Wednesday that they were star-struck by the couple and that their judgment in the case might be affected.

Jury selection began Wednesday in the lawsuit filed by Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown, who says Victoria Osteen assaulted her before a 2005 flight from Houston to Vail, Colo. Brown alleges that Victoria Osteen threw her against a bathroom door and elbowed her in the left breast during an outburst over a stain on a first-class seat.

Brown wants an apology and punitive damages amounting to 10 percent of Victoria Osteen’s net worth.

Victoria Osteen’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said before jury selection began that Brown’s allegations are false and that what happened was a "minor incident." Hardin also asked a judge to throw out a federal report detailing the alleged incident.

Joel Osteen was at his wife’s side in court Wednesday. Brown’s attorney, Reginald McKamie, said he expects to call the Osteens as witnesses.

McKamie said he hopes the trial will show "that celebrity status doesn’t take precedence."

But many in the 130-member jury pool said they have been to Lakewood Church, have read Joel Osteen’s books and hold the Osteens in high regard.

The Federal Aviation Administration fined Victoria Osteen $3,000 for interfering with a crew member.