The letter that accuses former Hewlett-Parkard CEO Mark Hurd of sexually harassing an event hostess has finally been made public.
It was released after the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that disclosing it wouldn’t violate any California privacy rights, and that since the information was only “mildly embarrassing,” it was not protected from public disclosure.
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Gloria Allred sent the letter last year on behalf of Josie Fisher, who accused Hurt of trying to seduce her with expensive dinners and telling her confidential HP trade information. He also showed her his over $1 million checking-account in an effort to impress her.
Fisher was hired as a contract employee to help with HP networking events in 2007. According to Allred, Hurd, who is married with two children, made several sexual advances that Fisher turned down. She also said that in March 2008, Hurd told Fisher that HP was going to be making a business deal with technology services vendor EDS, which was not officially announced until May of that year.
In October 2009, he allegedly grabbed and kissed her, which she rejected and left. After that she was not hired for any future HP events.
The company conducted an investigation over the harassment claim, and while it did not find any evidence of harassment, it did show that he used company funds inappropriately for his dinners with Fisher. This prompted Hurd’s departure from the company in August 2010.
He was later hired by rival company Oracle Corp. and is the co-president.
Hurd’s lawyers had attempted to keep the letter confidential, claiming that it contained inaccuracies. Last year Fisher also said in a statement that the letter contained “many inaccuracies” but did not specify what they were. She also said that she did not think Hurd’s behavior was “detrimental to HP.”
With Associated Press
