Pretexting victims sue HP, former executives

A group of reporters and their family members whose private telephone records were secretly obtained as part of Hewlett-Packard Co.’s boardroom surveillance scheme sued the technology giant and two former executives Wednesday.

Five lawsuits, each alleging “illegal and reprehensible conduct,” were filed in San Francisco Superior Court against Palo Alto-based Hewlett-Packard, former Chairwoman Patricia C. Dunn and Kevin T. Hunsaker, the company’s former ethics chief.

Both executives were ousted last year for their roles in HP’s probe of unauthorized leaks to the media.

The probe turned into a national scandal for the world’s No. 1 seller of personal computers and led to criminal investigations and congressional hearings over investigators’ use of Social Security numbers and other personal information to trick phone companies into handing over confidential call logs -- a tactic known as pretexting.

The plaintiffs include three reporters from online media company CNet Networks Inc.’s News.com -- Dawn Kawamoto, Stephen Shankland and Tom Krazit -- and one from the Associated Press -- Rachel Konrad, who is Shankland’s wife.

The lawsuits allege invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and engaging in unfair business practices. They seek unspecified damages and a jury trial.

HP said it apologized to each person affected by the spying probe and made a “substantial” settlement offer. “Unfortunately, rather than respond to the offer, they have decided to sue,” HP said in a statement. “HP is disappointed by their decision and will defend itself.”

Lawyers for Dunn and Hunsaker did not immediately return calls for comment.