Dell Whistleblower Unable to Revive Hardware Vulnerability Suit

Dell Computer Corp. showed that it would be “futile” to allow a whistleblower to revive claims that the company sold computer systems to the U.S. government that contained undisclosed security vulnerabilities known as “hardware trojans,” a district court in Washington said.

Phillip M. Adams’ proposed amended complaint failed to allege any statements made by Dell, and therefore his allegations don’t satisfy pleading requirements under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Judge Thomas F. Hogan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said Tuesday.

The proposed amended complaint didn’t correct flaws related to pleading materiality or scienter, the ...