Report: Three Reporters to Sue HP Over Pre-Texting

NEW YORK – Three CNET Networks reporters whose phone records were scrutinized by investigators working for Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) plan to sue HP for invasion of privacy, the New York Times reported on its Web site on Monday.

The suit would not ask for a dollar amount of damages but seek punitive damages against the world's largest maker of personal computers, the Times cited the reporters' lawyer, Kevin Boyle, as saying.

Boyle's firm Panish, Shea & Boyle was hired by the three reporters — Dawn Kawamoto, Stephen Shank-land and Tom Krazit, the Times said.

CNET did not plan to join the lawsuit but might sue separately, the paper said.

HP came under state and federal scrutiny because of the tactics used to find the source of media leaks in 2005 and 2006. HP hired investigators who impersonated reporters, board members and employees to obtain private phone records.

Boyle, CNET and HP could not immediately be reached for comment.