Embattled media mogul Sumner Redstone is having a challange to his mental competency head to trial after a judge allowed the suit to move forward. The case was brought by Redstone’s former girlfriend who was once charged with control under his healthcare directive in the event he was incapacitated. She claims that his daughter exercised undue influence over the aged billionaire in a series of changes to his estate plan which included removing a bequest that had been made to the girlfriend in a previous will. The judge noted that both sides have presented fact laden cases that have drastically differing narratives concerning the mental state of Redstone which played a big part in allow the move to trial. Lawyers for Redstone were quick to characterize the ruling as not based on the truth of the girlfriends claims which they called meritless. The trial is set to begin on May 6 and could have major implications for the various media companies controlled by the estate.
See Emily Steel, Sumner Redstone Competency Case Will Go Forward, The New York Times, February 29, 2016.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
