A trial to determine who will own Kong, which grew out of a Denver auto shop to become a global pet toy valued at a half-billion dollars, got underway Monday.

The three-week proceeding follows more than three years of litigation across two Denver courts and pits Joe Markham, Kong’s founder, against his company, its longtime president and its other co-owner. At stake is millions of dollars and control of the Golden-based business.

“To have this court force Mr. Markham to leave his company is simply wrong and this court should not do it,” his attorney, Billy Jones, said in opening arguments Monday.

Markham is accusing Kong, President KD Decker and co-owner John Nelson of freezing him out of decisions at Kong as part of a long-term plan to take over the business.

“Mr. Nelson and Ms. Decke

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