Facebook Learns That A Settlement Might Not Be The End Of A Lawsuit

Posted by Eriq Gardner

Facebook would love for its legal troubles with ConnectU to just go away. But despite a settlement, the social-networking Web site valued at $15 billion just can't put it to bed.

ConnectU claims that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg stole the idea behind his popular website after working on a campus dating project started by ConnectU founders called Harvard Connection.

Now, after reviewing evidence from Facebook's hard drives recovered in the discovery phase, ConnectU says it has the "smoking gun" in hand. So despite a settlement in April, the company wishes to continue to pursue its claims. Facebook is attempting to get the judge to enforce the settlement.

"If we are forced into a settlement, the next step is going to be a fraud claim," ConnectU's attorney, John Hornick, told U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock at a hearing Tuesday in Boston.