• by Wendy Davis  @wendyndavis, June 18, 2014

Three Facebook users who sued the social networking service for allegedly misrepresenting that they “liked” particular content have quietly withdrawn their case, according to court records.

The users didn't specify why they withdrew the case, but they did so with prejudice -- meaning that they can't file it again in the future. A lawyer representing the users didn't respond to Online Media Daily's request for comment. The complaint, which was filed in federal district court in Oakland, Calif., was quietly withdrawn late last month.

The move resolves a lawsuit initially filed in January by Colorado resident Anthony DiTirro, who alleged that Facebook told his friends that he “liked” the newspaper USA Today. Several weeks later, two other Facebook users -- California residents Katya Bresler and Michelle Shumate -- joined the case with allegations that Facebook incorrectly said they “liked” particular marketers.

Facebook allegedly misrepresented that Bresler “liked” Duracell, and that Shumate “liked” Kohl's.

DiTirro, Bresler and Shumate said in their complaint that they never clicked the “like” button -- either on Facebook or outside publishers' and marketers' sites -- for USA Today, Duracell or Kohl's. They argued that the social-networking service misappropriated their images, engaged in false advertising and violated their privacy.

Facebook denied the allegations, saying in court papers that the case “should never have been brought.” The company suggested in a motion to dismiss the lawsuit that the consumers either forgot that they “liked” the material, or accidentally hit the “like” button.