An Apple shareholder lawsuit alleges that Apple gave four executives a big windfall by giving them options to buy almost 1 million shares of company stock the day before Apple announced a $150 million investment by Microsoft in 1997. The Los Angeles Times says that improper options timing was common at Apple for many years. The lawsuit was filed in late December 2006 and says that options were "spring-loaded;" this practice grants options soon before good company news is released to the public.

Suit charges Apple with new options woes