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Torts
Constitutional Law
Control of Names and Likeness

Robyn Cohen, Shannon Stoller, Christopher Marshall, Bryan Siglock, and Debra Lewin, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated v. Facebook Inc., a Delaware corporation

Published: Aug. 20, 2011 | Result Date: Jun. 28, 2011 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: 3:2010-cv-05282 Bench Decision –  Dismissal

Court

USDC Northern


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Eric B. Carlson

Alex Weingarten
(Wilkie Farr)

Marc Primo

Mark P. Pifko
(Baron & Budd PC)

Jay M. Spillane
(Spillane Trial Group PLC)

Gene F. Williams
(Gordon & Rees LLP)


Defendant

Matthew D. Brown
(Cooley LLP)


Facts

A lawsuit was filed against Facebook Inc. that claimed the site's "Friend Finder" feature violated users' rights to control the use of their names and likenesses.

Facebook sought to dismiss the case, claiming that mere disclosure of service usage to users' Facebook friends did not cause users any cognizable harm.

Damages

Plaintiffs sought damages of at least $100 million.

Result

North District Judge Richard Seeborg granted Facebook's motion to dismiss without leave to amend, finding plaintiffs had suffered no injury. On April 10, 2012, Judge Seeborg denied Facebook's motion for attorney fees.


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