HP Directors Hit with Lawsuit by MA Pension Fund
In a shareholder derivative lawsuit, the Brockton Contributory Retirement System accuses the directors of failing to properly disclose the existence of an internal probe into Hurd’s activities, failing to “police insider trading” by company executives, and trying to give Hurd tens of millions of dollars of severance he did not deserve, Reuters reports.
Hurd resigned as chairman and chief executive after the investigation found he had allegedly falsified expense reports to cover a relationship with a female marketing consultant. The probe also examined a sexual harassment claim, but found it lacked merit, according to Reuters.
The company’s market value has fallen about $14.4 billion since Hurd’s resignation was announced after the August 6th stock market close.
The news report said the complaint seeks a variety of governance changes, an order that the individual defendants pay Hewlett-Packard damages, the imposition of a constructive trust on Hurd’s severance and profits from alleged improper trading activities, punitive damages, and other remedies.