Computer Sciences Corp has filed a lawsuit against determined and hostile suitor Computer Associates International Inc seeking to block the proposed merger under the California Unfair Business Practices Act. The suit, which was filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleges that CA tried to tempt CSC chief executive Van Honeycutt with stock options in order to secure his support for CA’s takeover of the company. It also alleges that CA threatened to disrupt CSC’s relationship with its customers and employees if its offer wasn’t accepted. In the suit, CSC is asking the court to prohibit CA from communicating with its employees or customers and seeks $50m in damages. The central allegation in the legal action is that CA chief executive Charles Wang approached Honeycutt with an offer of $50m to buy his loyalty. The offer reportedly included $35m in stock options and a guaranteed seven-year contract with a $2.5m base salary. A spokesman for CSC wouldn’t comment further on the suit.
