December 7, 2006
According to various news reports, the California attorney general's office is expected to settle some
civil complaints with Hewlett-Packard over the company's spying tactics.
Overall, the complaints are separate from the criminal charges already brought forward by the attorney
general's office. Five people, including former HP Chairman Patricia Dunn, are facing felony charges in
connection with HP's campaign to determine the source of unauthorized media leaks.
All five have pleaded not guilty.
A lawyer for the attorney general's office confirmed that an announcement is scheduled for today, but would
not confirm or deny the civil settlement. Some news reports last week suggested that the state's top prosecutor
was considering a civil complaint over Hewlett-Packard's tactics.
An HP representative declined to comment.
As part of its effort to uncover the source of news stories, HP investigators employed the practice of pretexting,
or using false pretenses, to obtain the phone records of more than a dozen people, including board members, journalists
and HP employees.
The company also employed physical surveillance and sent a bogus tip with an electronic tracer to a C-NET News.com
reporter.
After the company's tactics came to light, Congress held hearings, and the FBI and Justice Department also
launched probes. HP also faces a formal SEC inquiry into the matter.
The HP scandal also prompted the departures of Dunn, general counsel Ann Baskins and two other HP employees.
Source: C-Net News
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