Ousted and indicted former Apple General Counsel, Nancy Heinen is readying her defense against stock option backdating charges from the SEC. Apple dismissed Heinen when the SEC came calling on the company regarding questionable grants practices.

While Apple patriarch, Steve Jobs seemed to be at least momentarily in the cross-hairs (and many predicted his sort, swift downfall), it was Heinen along with a few other high level company employees who have ultimately faced repercussions.

In her defense Heinen is seeking financial records from fellow former Apple in-house attorney, Wendy Howell. Howell, also canned in the options mess, was the individual who actually wrote the questionable options grant to Steve Jobs. Howell has indicated she falsified the options grant under pressure from Heinen.

Heinen wants access to the documents to show that Howell was under considerable financial distress at the time, hoping to discredit her testimony. Howell has thusfar resisted the overtures of the Heinen defense team citing privacy concerns.

Heinen recently filed suit against her former co-worker in an effort to produce the documents. MacWorld UK has the details on the case of Heinen v. Howell.

-- MDT

Labels: Apple, backdating, Nancy Heinen, SEC, stock options