Steven Kim, lawyer for the family of Dara Onishi, told the jury the city should be held liable because its drainage system on Pacific Heights Road funneled water down the hillside above the Onishi home and helped dislodge the boulder.

But city Deputy Corporation Counsel Derek Mayeshiro said in his opening that the city will present experts to testify that the boulder did not come from the path of the drainage water.

Onishi was asleep in her room when the boulder crashed into the Onishis' home at Henry Street the early morning of Aug. 9, 2002.

Both sides agreed Onishi was an accomplished woman and her death was a tragedy.

But they indicated they will be presenting experts over the issue of whether the city should pay the Onishi family for the death.

Kim did not mention how much the family will be asking.

The trial is expected to last about two weeks in Circuit Judge Karen Ahn's courtroom.