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Facebook used to serve legal papers
After several attempts to reach an Australian couple who had missed payments on a loan for $100,000 failed, Mark McCormack, a lawyer in Canberra persuaded a court to allow him to serve the legal documents via the popular social networking site Facebook. It is believed to be the first time Facebook has been used in this way.
Mr McCormack resorted to using Facebook to trace the couple having failed to contact them at their home address and via email, and after they failed to attend a court appearance. Having found the woman's page, and used details listed there such as her date of birth to argue in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court that she was the person in question. Her partner was listed as one of her "friends".
In granting permission to use Facebook, the judge stipulated that the papers be sent via a private email so that other people visiting the page could not read their contents.
Mr McCormack said "It's somewhat novel, however we do see it as a valid method of bringing the matter to the attention of a defendant,".
It is thought the courts will continue to use Facebook, as long as they can be sure it is reasonably likely to come to the attention of those concerned.
Australian courts have, in the past, granted permission for people to be served with legally binding papers via email or even text message but this is the first time they have allowed the use of Facebook,