PITTSBURGH—A federal court jury in Pittsburgh is being asked to decide whether a township wrongly denied a man a right to speak at a public meeting three years ago.

The trial that began Monday is narrowly focused on whether Ross Township Commissioner Daniel DeMarco violated William Ansell's rights by having police escort him from a public meeting after his brother allegedly went over a five-minute speaking limit on the same subject.

The trial is all that remains of a voluminous lawsuit in which William Ansell sued township and law enforcement officials for allegedly siding against him after complaints from neighbors about a large Christmas light display he erected at a home he rented from his brother.

The township argues they've repeatedly listened to the brothers' position at public and private meetings aimed at resolving the disputes.