Unsealed letter reveals Mark Hurd's HP troubles

A LETTER UNSEALED by a US court has revealed some more grubby information about Mark Hurd's sudden departure from HP.

The letter, uploaded to Scribd by All Things D, came from lawyers representing actress turned HP contractor Jodie Fisher, and it accuses Hurd of things that his mum would not want to read about.

"We believe Ms. Fisher has a significant case for sexual harassment," says the letter, which is addressed to Hurd. "It is clear you had designs to make her your lover." It adds that he used his HP status and monies to create a role for her, alleging that procured female companionship using HP funds.

At an early meeting Hurd asked Fisher to visit his hotel room, says the letter. She was unsure but chose to go after speaking to her Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor on the phone. Once she was in his suite Hurd grazed her breast and sat uncomfortably close, it adds, and then pleaded with her for an hour to stay the night. This pleading or cajoling went on for two years, it alleges.

The courtship was an uncomfortable one, according to the lawyers' letter, and it included Hurd doing things like bragging about other women who wanted to sleep with him, and showing Fisher his bank balance on an ATM machine, but any lonely hearts reading this are urged to not take notes.

"She continually had to put you off, make excuses, scurry away or simply leave," the letter explains. "Oftentimes, you would be irritated and angry and on a few occasions, you were so angry when she put you off, she expected to get fired."

The relationship, business and personal, apparently broke down after Fisher refused yet another advance from Hurd while she was wearing only a robe. After this meeting, which apparently angered Hurd, she received no more contact and no more offers of work.

Hurd stepped down from his position as HP CEO and the HP board in August of 2010. µ