Summer Redstone Competency Case Thrown Out

The competency case involving the nonagenarian media mogul Sumner Redstone has been dismissed by a Los Angeles judge.

Summer Redstone Competency Case Dismissed

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David J. Cowan opted to dismiss a mental competence lawsuit filed by Redstone’s former girlfriend Manuela Herzer, reported the Los Angeles Times. During the trial, it was further determined that Redstone, 92, approved of having his daughter, Shari Redstone, as his heir apparent and the person in charge of his healthcare.

“In brief but compelling testimony, Redstone overcame his very significant ailments, including inability to speak clearly and what looked like much pain in swallowing” to provide the testimony,” Cowan wrote in his ruling. “The court was able to see the strong conviction he had about what he said. He seemed very alert. He was composed and did not appear angry…. There are no legal grounds not to follow his stated wishes.”

Shari Redstone released a statement to express her gratitude for Cowan’s ruling. “I am grateful to the court for putting an end to this long ordeal,” said Shari Redstone, the vice chair of Viacom and CBS. “I am so happy for my father that he can now live his life in peace, surrounded by his friends and family.”

Summer Redstone had removed Herzer as the person in charge of his healthcare in November of last year. He had also removed her from his will. Those moves by Redstone led Herzer to file the petition to deem him mentally incompetent. In her suit, Herzer claimed that the executive chairman of CBS and Viacom was “a living ghost” and that he was fed via a feeding tube and suffered from crying spells.

Herzer has also filed a new lawsuit asking for $100 million from Shari Redstone, her two sons, Redstone’s nurses and chauffeur, claiming that they conspired to have her cut out of Redstone’s will.