By Michael Cieply and Brooks Barnes | The New York Times
A former companion of the ailing media mogul Sumner M. Redstone, executive chairman of Viacom and CBS, challenged his mental competence on Wednesday in a detailed filing with the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Manuela Herzer said Mr. Redstone, who is 92, for weeks has been unable to “communicate reliably or competently manage his own health care” in a petition with the court’s probate division. The petition specifically asks the court to determine whether Ms. Herzer, who once had a romantic relationship with Mr. Redstone, was improperly removed on Oct. 16 from control of an advance health care directive that gave her authority over his health decisions.
“Thankfully there are underlying public policy considerations that place limitations on estate planning and asset protection. Estate planning and asset protection are not tools to facilitate malfeasance, and it appears Mr. Durst has already seen that reality and may continue to with this next round of trouble.”
~ Loren Unger, Rose Law Group attorney
