Media mogul Redstone victim of ‘undue influence,’ ex-girlfriend says

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Media mogul Sumner Redstone was under “undue influence” from people around him when he replaced his designated healthcare agent in October 2015, his ex-girlfriend argued in a court filing on Thursday.

The ex-girlfriend, Manuela Herzer, has sued over her removal as healthcare agent for the 92-year-old billionaire in favor of Viacom Inc Chief Executive Officer Philippe Dauman. She claims Redstone was not mentally competent at the time the decision was made.

In the filing on Thursday, Herzer’s attorneys said Redstone “is vulnerable to, and has become the victim of, undue influence, fraud, manipulation and chicanery.”

Redstone earlier this month gave up his roles as executive chairman of Viacom and CBS Corp. He still controls about 80 percent of the voting shares in both companies.

Redstone’s attorneys have moved to dismiss Herzer’s case, saying that the former executive chairman of Viacom and CBS Corp was fully aware of his actions. They argue that Herzer has filed her lawsuit for financial gain.

In Thursday’s filing, Herzer’s attorneys say Redstone is “frail” and “isolated in a virtual intensive care unit.” Daughter Shari Redstone “exploited his isolation” and “manipulated her incapacitated father to her own financial advantage,” they said.

They also said a letter to the Viacom board that praised Dauman’s leadership was a “fraud” written by Dauman himself but was portrayed as coming from Sumner Redstone.

Representatives for Shari Redstone and Dauman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Dan Levine; Editing by Sandra Maler)

• Business
• Sumner Redstone
• Shari Redstone
• undue influence