American Scene

CALIFORNIA

Facebook settlement won’t be reconsidered

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court has refused to reconsider its decision ordering two former Harvard classmates of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to accept a multimillion-dollar settlement over the company.

Twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss sued Mr. Zuckerberg, saying he stole the idea for the social networking site. Both parties reached a settlement in 2008, but the Winklevosses claim they were misled during settlement talks.

Last month, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the settlement, which calls for a $20 million cash payment and stock in the company now valued in the tens of billions.

On Monday, the court declined to assign the case to a special 11-judge panel for reconsideration.

FLORIDA

Attorney: Imam will fight terror charges

MIAMI — An elderly Muslim cleric charged with supporting Pakistani terrorists will plead not guilty and should not be prejudged simply because of the seriousness of the case, his defense attorney said Monday.

“We only have the government’s side. He intends to challenge it,” said Khurrum Wahid, attorney for Hafiz Muhammad Sher Ali Khan, 76. “I’d ask the public to keep an open mind. I have no question that through this process we’re going to vindicate Mr. Khan.”

Mr. Khan, imam at the Miami Mosque, and his son, Izhar Khan, 24, appeared in federal court for the first time since their arrests on charges of conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists.

They are among six people who allegedly worked to funnel at least $50,000 to the Pakistani Taliban, which violently opposes Pakistan's government and the U.S., prosecutors said.

ILLINOIS

Rural lack of access to surgery challenged

CHICAGO — A surprising study of nearly 46 million Medicare patients says older residents in rural areas are more likely to have any of nine common surgeries than people in cities.

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