Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, is being sued by a real estate developer, Mircea Voskerician. The developer claims that Zuckerberg promised to provide introductions and referrals to the developer, in exchange for the rights to buy a property located behind his home. The developer was planning to build a home on the land, which he had agreed to purchase from the owner. Zuckerberg did not want construction in the area, so he offered Voskerician $1.7 million for the rights to purchase the land.
Voskerician claims he was hesitant, stating that the project would have made him significantly more than the $1.7 million, but agreed to sell only after Zuckerberg promised to help him find other deals by introducing him to his wealthy friends, and giving recommendations. After paying the $1.7 million, Zuckerberg bought the property located behind his home for $4.8 million, and then went on to buy three more lots near his home for $10.5 to $14.5 million each. Clearly, Zuckerberg values his privacy.
Mark Zuckerberg’s attorneys state that the case is without merit, and that while Zuckerberg did buy the rights to purchase this land, “The (lawsuit’s) description of the meeting that took place is unrecognizable to my client. The claim here is just meritless, plain and simple.”
According to Voskerician’s attorney, while the agreement to make the introductions was not in writing, it was witnessed by several people who attended the meeting. They went on to say, “Here’s this guy who built his business on connections and relationships, and all he had to do was make some introductions, but he blew my client off.”
Obviously no matter the outcome of this suit, the money is almost meaningless to Zuckerberg at this point. It does go to show, however, that you need to be careful about what types of things you promise (including what types of things can be even interoperated as promises) when you’re making business deals.
