(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Kevin Costner is defending himself against Stephen Baldwin who claims The Bodyguard star defrauded him.

The court case begins in New Orleans today where both parties will have the opportunity to give their side in the multi-million dollar case.

TMZ reports that Stephen first filed suit against Kevin back in 2010 claiming the Hollywood star fraudulently advised him into selling shares in a company that builds machines to clean up oil spills.

Stephen alleges that Kevin and his business partner had knowledge that the company was about to ink a deal to sell equipment to help in the BP oil disaster and didn't tell him about it.

Without knowing about the impending windfall, Stephen sold his shares back to the company.

Kevin's company apparently made $52 million from the deal with BP and Stephen now wants to be compensated to the tune of $21 million.

Kevin insists that there was no definite deal in place with BP when Stephen sold his shares and says he didn't even know his fellow actor was going to sell. (C) Cover Media