Opening arguments have been delayed in the civil case disputing the Warren County Port Commission’s payments to the Vicksburg-based construction company hired to replace the T-dock crane support platform at the Port of Vicksburg.

More counterclaims have been allowed, meaning trial of the case could not start on Monday as expected, legal counsel for the commission said. The case is assigned to Circuit Court Judge Jim Chaney.

Riverside Construction has asked for its $3.4 million contract be increased and its contract time be extended by 75 days to offset contractual damages withheld by the port commission when it paid for the 2007-08 project, now largely completed.

The company was the only bidder on the project when commissioners took offers in June 2007.