In response to the news of Mark Hurd’s intention to join Oracle, HP today filed a civil complaint in the California Superior Court (County of Santa Clara) against Hurd. HP’s statement on the matter: 
 
 “Mark Hurd agreed to and signed agreements designed to protect HP's trade secrets and confidential information. HP intends to enforce those agreements.” 
 
 The full complaint can be found here ﻿ [pdf]; part of the introduction is excerpted below: 
 
 “Despite being paid millions of dollars in cash, stock and stock options in exchange for Hurd’s agreements to protect HP’s trade secrets and confidential information during his employment and following his departure from his positions at HP as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President, HP is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Hurd has put HP’s most valuable trade secrets and confidential information in peril. Hurd accepted positions with Oracle Corporation (“Oracle”), a competitor of HP, yesterday as its President and as a member of its Board of Directors. In his new positions, Hurd will be in a situation in which he cannot perform his duties for Oracle without necessarily using and disclosing HP’s trade secrets and confidential information to others.” 

 HP is suing Mark Hurd for violating his severance agreemment. 
 
 In the lawsuit against Hurd, HP says Hurd puts, "HP’s most valuable trade secrets and confidential information in peril," by accepting the job of President at Oracle. 
 
 On its company blog, HP says, "Mark Hurd agreed to and signed agreements designed to protect HP's trade secrets and confidential information. HP intends to enforce those agreements." 
 
 HP gave Hurd a $40+ million severance package when it fired him as CEO. This severance was presumably paid, in part, so Hurd wouldn't sue HP for wrongful termination. 
 
 But now it will give Hurd plenty of money with which to fight off HP's own lawsuit. 
 
 HP (and its shareholders) are probably feeling sick today. Oracle's stock is up 5% today, adding $6.23 billion to the market cap as of this writing. HP's stock on the other hand still hasn't recovered from Hurd's firing. 
 
 Hurd never signed a non-compete, but he did participate in many confidentiality agreements, which HP says make his job at Oracle impossible. "By working at Oracle, he cannot help but utilize and disclose HP's trade secrets and confidential information," alleges HP in its lawsuit. 
 
 Court Filing: HP Civil Complaint Against Mark Hurd
– The happy little split between between Mark Hurd and Hewlett-Packard takes another turn. HP today sued its newly ousted CEO to prevent him from assuming a top job at rival Oracle. "Mark Hurd agreed to and signed agreements designed to protect HP's trade secrets and confidential information," declares a company blog (which has a link to the full complaint). "HP intends to enforce those agreements." Writes Jay Yarow at Business Insider: "HP (and its shareholders) are probably feeling sick today. Oracle's stock is up 5% today, adding $6.23 billion to the market cap as of this writing. HP's stock on the other hand still hasn't recovered from Hurd's firing. " (To read more on Hurd's new job at Oracle, click here.)