A California man says he is the rightful owner of an 840-pound emerald even though his receipt for the giant gem burned up in a fire.

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Anthony Thomas, a construction executive from San Jose, testified in Los Angeles Friday that he paid $60,000 for the Bahia Emerald to a couple of Brazilians in 2001 and was awaiting its arrival when a house fire consumed his admittedly informal "bill of sale."

The emerald never showed up and, Thomas testified, prosecutors in San Jose told him there was nothing they could do since Brazil was outside their jurisdiction.

Thomas is one of at least a half dozen people claiming ownership of the emerald, which the Los Angeles Times said has been valued as high as $372 million.

Along with Thomas, a group of investors contends they obtained ownership of the Bahia through various business deals. They contend Thomas is throwing a legal Hail Mary and his claims of a fire and that the emerald was stolen before it could be shipped to him were unbelievable.

But Thomas's attorney, Jeffrey Baruh, said in court Thomas "is the only person who ever paid a cent for the Bahia Emerald."

The trial will resume next month, the Times said. In the meantime, the emerald itself is being kept in an evidence locker by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.