Facebook sues law firms, claims fraud

NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook is suing several law firms that represented a man who claimed he owned half of the company and was entitled to billions of dollars.

The case was dismissed in April and the man is facing related criminal charges. Facebook Inc. filed a lawsuit Monday against DLA Piper and other law firms and lawyers, saying they knowingly conspired to file and prosecute a fraudulent lawsuit. DLA is one of the world's largest business law firms.

The man, Paul Ceglia, claimed that he and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg signed a 2003 contract that included a provision entitling him to half-ownership of Facebook.

DLA Piper and the other firms in the suit, including Milberg LLP and Paul Argentieri and Associates, could not immediately be reached for comment.