Facebook sues over ‘fraudulent lawsuit’
Facebook is suing US law firms alleging they knowingly represented a fraudster who claimed to be owed Facebook shares, in a warning to other law firms representing anyone attempting to get a slice of Mark Zuckerberg’s fortune.
The Silicon Valley-based company filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking damages including fees and punitive damages from DLA Piper and Milberg LLP, as well as Paul Argentieri & Associates and Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP. The suit also names particular lawyers at those firms.
In a complaint submitted to the supreme court of the state of New York, Facebook and Mr Zuckerberg, the company’s founder and chief executive, allege that the firms representing Paul D. Ceglia conspired to file and prosecute “a fraudulent lawsuit”.
“The lawyers representing Ceglia knew or should have known that the lawsuit was a fraud – it was brought by a convicted felon with a history of fraudulent scams, and it was based on an implausible story and obviously forged documents,” the complaint said.
Mr Zuckerberg has faced several claims of ownership since Facebook was a small start-up, including a settlement he reached with Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, twin brothers who were at Harvard at the same time as Mr Zuckerberg.
“DLA Piper’s involvement in the case and its public defence of the merits provided a patina of legitimacy to Ceglia’s fraudulent claims. DLA Piper traded on its high profile in the legal community to further the fraudulent scheme, all in the hope of creating negative publicity to force a quick settlement in which the law firm would share,” the complaint said.
Source: FT- Facebook sues over ‘fraudulent lawsuit’
