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Lawsuit against Facebook to go forward

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg participates in an online "town hall" meeting with President Barak Obama at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California on April 20, 2011. UPI/Terry Schmitt
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg participates in an online "town hall" meeting with President Barak Obama at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California on April 20, 2011. UPI/Terry Schmitt | License Photo

BUFFALO, N.Y., April 5 (UPI) -- A Buffalo, N.Y., judge ruled a local man's lawsuit against Facebook mogul Mark Zuckerberg will proceed.

Paul Ceglia is suing Zuckerberg, alleging he has a contract which entitles him to half of Zuckerburg's share of Facebook, worth millions. Federal Magistrate Judge Leslie Foschio ruled Wednesday the case will proceed with a focus on determining the authenticity of the contract.

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Facebook's attorneys filed a motion to have the case dismissed, calling Ceglia "a fraud to the court." While Foschio considers the motion, Wednesday's ruling means Ceglia's legal team will have access to Facebook's findings pertaining to the contract's authenticity.

WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, N.Y., reported Ceglia has two months to prove the contract is not a fraud.

Orin Snyder, Facebook's lead attorney, released a statement in response to the ruling:

"We are very pleased with today's ruling. The Court denied Ceglia's request for broad discovery and continues to focus these proceedings solely on the question of Ceglia's criminal fraud. We welcome the opportunity to develop additional evidence of Ceglia's misconduct and look forward to having him held accountable."

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