The Delaware Supreme Court denied former Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) CEO Mark Hurd’s attempt to shield from the public a letter reportedly accusing him of sexual harassment, the basis of a scandal that forced him out of the Palo Alto tech giant’s top seat.
The letter — sent to Hurd last year by celebrity attorney Gloria Allred on behalf of Jodie Fisher, an actress who was hired to help with HP networking events and subsequently accused Hurd of sexual harassment — is part of a lawsuit filed by HP shareholder Ernesto Espinoza seeking company records regarding Hurd’s departure.
It outlines former actress Fisher’s allegations that Hurd committed sexual harassment and a litany of other improprieties. According to the judge who initially ruled against Hurd, it describes alleged sexual advances by the veteran tech executive and accuses him of blabbing company secrets while treating Fisher to expensive meals on the company tab.