Ceglia gets a $5,000 fine for contempt over Facebook claims

CHANCER Paul Ceglia has been ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and part of Facebook's legal expenses after failing to comply with a court order.

Ceglia claims to own half of Facebook, which the firm has consistently denied. Now US federal Magistrate Judge Leslie Foschio has found Ceglia in contempt and ordered him to pay the court $5,000 plus part of Facebook's legal fees, an amount that could be significantly more.

In August Judge Foschio had ordered Ceglia to provide Facebook with information about his personal email accounts. According to Judge Foschio, Ceglia failed to comply with the order, which has lead to the contempt ruling and fine.

"The circumstances under which he attempted to avoid complying establishes a plain lack of respect for the court's order which cannot be countenanced," said Judge Foschio, who continued, "For whatever reasons, he, fully advised by his attorneys not to do so, chose to knowingly ignore the unambiguous orders of the court."

Ceglia's $5,000 fine is likely to be the least of his problems, as Judge Foschio also ordered him to pay part of Facebook's legal costs. Given the high-profile law firm Facebook has hired, paying part of its legal fees could run to tens of thousands of dollars.

Eventually Ceglia did agree to provide details of his personal email accounts but only after having been again ordered to do so by US District Judge Richard Arcara.

Ceglia's claim of owning half of Facebook is looking like it might finally hit the buffers. Facebook has once again said it will soon file a motion to dismiss Ceglia's lawsuit, but even if it doesn't, simply having to pay part of Facebook's legal fees could break Ceglia. µ