Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Andrew Cuomo Caused Facebook Lawsuit


By

Jaya Saxena

Published Aug 3, 2010

Modified Aug 3, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Jaya Saxena

Published Aug 3, 2010

Modified Aug 3, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Paul Ceglia, the man who claims he actually owns 84% of Facebook, says his lawsuit would not have been possible without Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo filed a suit against Ceglia, claiming he defrauded customers of his wood-pellet fuel company. As Ceglia began looking through old paperwork to find assets to pay back his customers, he stumbled upon the contract. He told Bloomberg News, "If this thing hadn’t happened the way it happened, no way I would have ever started looking through these ancient folders. That contract would just be sitting in there gathering dust.

Facebook had already called the claims "absurd," and suspects the contract is a forgery. But Ceglia threatens, "I’m coming after him [Mark Zuckerberg]. A deal’s a deal." Facebook lawyer Lisa Simpson (!) admits Zuckerberg did sign some contract with Ceglia in 2003, but Ceglia couldn't have a share in the project because Zuckerberg didn't think of it until the following year.

So what would Ceglia do if he suddenly found himself in charge of the social media giant? “If at some point in the future I start running Facebook, I guess I’m going to have to hire him [Zuckerberg] to keep running the company,” he said. “I really don’t have much interest in it." He's just interested in that ownership claim worth $21 billion he happened to forget about for the past six years. [Via Daily Intel]

Tagged

andrew cuomo

facebook

lawsuit

mark zuckerberg

paul ceglia


Jaya Saxena

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'

Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.

By

James Ramsay

Published Oct 19, 2026 at 8:26 a.m. ET


Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest

Ulrich, a former city councilmember, is accused of trading access and favors for cash and bribes. He was the first aide to Mayor Adams charged with public corruption.

By

David Brand

and

Samantha Max

News

Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest

Ulrich, a former city councilmember, is accused of trading access and favors for cash and bribes. He was the first aide to Mayor Adams charged with public corruption.

By

David Brand

and

Samantha Max


Need help with mental health or addiction services? NYC has a new tool.

By

Caroline Lewis

NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims

By

Walter Wuthmann

NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks

By

Catalina Gonella


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .