Facebook wins access to material cited in New York suit

The judge also granted Zuckerberg’s attorneys’ request to have forensics experts examine Paul Ceglia’s computers, floppy discs, CDs and hard drives as they seek to discredit the New York man’s claims that he and Zuckerberg signed a contract in 2003 that entitles Ceglia to half of Facebook and discussed the arrangement via email.

Ceglia was given until July 15 to produce the materials.

Ceglia will in turn gain access to some of Zuckerberg’s emails and handwriting samples from his days as a Harvard University student, when the two men met.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie Foschio instructed lawyers to agree on where and how to examine the original 2003 contract, which is now stored in a bank safe deposit box.

He suggested having an armed security guard present, given the document’s role in what amounts to a $25 billion lawsuit.