Craiglist vs. South Carolina: The Prostitution Ad Battle

Craigslist is going head-to-head with the state of South Carolina in what can only be described as a bizarre legal battle. The online classifieds company is suing Attorney General Henry McMaster because -- prepare yourself -- he threatened to file criminal charges over the site's sex-related ads.

This debacle's seen more tricks and turns than the Craigslist-advertising hookers themselves. Here's a look at the significant steps that led up to this point.

November 2008: Craigslist Cracks a Deal

Last November, Craigslist execs worked with attorneys general from 40 states to develop a new system for the site's "erotic services" section. The company agreed to start requiring advertisers to pay for spots in the category. Giving a credit card and phone number, CEO Jim Buckmaster (pictured) said, would "raise the accountability for people posting."

March 2009: Cook County Sues Craigslist

Despite the altered "erotic services" setup, Illinois' Cook County Sheriff's Office -- the nation's second largest department, encompassing Chicago -- filed a lawsuit against Craigslist accusing it of facilitating prostitution. The department said the '08 deal didn't do enough and called for the adult-oriented section to be shut down completely. It also asked for Craigslist to cover damages incurred by police investigating Craigslist-based prostitution arrangements. That cost, Cook County estimated, topped $100,000 between January and November 2008.

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