Hewlett-Packard files motion to dismiss Walter Hewlett's lawsuit
Hewlett-Packard has stepped up its legal battle with rebel board member Walter Hewlett.
The company has filed a motion in a Delaware court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Mr Hewlett.
He is trying to block the £15.3bn (€25bn) tie-up between HP and Compaq.
News of HP's legal move comes after directors said they would not nominate Mr Hewlett to the board at their annual meeting on April 26.
HP says allegations that it bought votes from Deutsche Bank or improperly coerced the firm to change its votes are 'false'.
It also says claims that HP shareholders were misinformed about integration are "without foundation".
In a memo to staff, the company states: "We intend to contest them vigorously... Mr Hewlett's latest actions have again violated basic principles of trust and his ongoing adversarial relationship with the company now undermines the board's ability to effectively conduct business."
Separately, the HP board announced that five Compaq board members will join the new company's board pending legal closure of the merger.
They include Lawrence Babbio Jr, vice-chairman and president of Verizon Communications, and Sanford Litvack, former vice-chairman of The Walt Disney Company.
The new board will consist of 10 independent outside directors, compared with six on HP's current board.
