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Sumner Redstone steps down as CBS Exec Chairman


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The news just broke that Sumner Redstone is stepping down as the executive chairman of CBS Corp. effective today, and as a result, CBS CEO Les Moonves will take over as executive chairman, while Redstone's daughter Shari will remain as a vice chairwoman of CBS.

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sumner-redstone-resigns-as-cbs-861774

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Moonves has deserved to lead CBS for years upon years and I'm glad it's official; it also takes CBS just that slightly farther away from the garbage heap that is Viacom (even if they're forever linked by Redstone).

 

I suppose it's a quixotic dream at this point but I hope there's an effort by him to grab Time Warner, where he started.

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Moonves has deserved to lead CBS for years upon years and I'm glad it's official; it also takes CBS just that slightly farther away from the garbage heap that is Viacom (even if they're forever linked by Redstone).

 

I suppose it's a quixotic dream at this point but I hope there's an effort by him to grab Time Warner, where he started.

 

Redstone is a drooling jellyfish that doesn't know what planet he's on let alone is in any condition to make corporate decisions. If you think otherwise, you're as delusional as his daughter.

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Is Redstone the only link CBS has with Viacom?

Officially, CBS Corporation and Viacom exist as separate entities under the same umbrella. Both companies are directly controlled by National Amusements, Inc., of which Redstone had been the chair of.

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  • 3 months later...

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Sumner Redstone's daughter Shari engineered a plot

to evict her mentally incapacitated father's longtime companion from his life

and strip the woman of her ability to make health-care decisions on his behalf,

an attorney told a jury today, but a lawyer for Redstone said the media mogul

was of sound mind when he removed his former flame from his life.

The two lawyers -- Pierce O'Donnell on behalf of Manuela Herzer and

Robert Klieger representing Redstone -- made their pitches to Los Angeles

Superior Court Judge David Cowan during opening statements in the trial of

Herzer's petition to be put back in charge of Redstone's health care.

``There was a circle of deceit,'' O'Donnell said. ``This was a shocking,

mass invasion of Sumner's privacy.''

Shari Redstone, 62, conspired with her father's nursing staff and others

to stage the ``coup,'' O'Donnell said.

Redstone was pushed to oust Herzer, according to O'Donnell.

``His decision was not that of a sound mind,'' O'Donnell said.

O'Donnell said Redstone's poor mental state was apparent when lawyers on

both sides deposed him at his home Thursday, when Redstone was unable to

answer the simplest of questions. Redstone used foul language when discussing

Herzer and accused her of stealing money from him, O'Donnell said.

But Klieger said that while Redstone may have trouble communicating

clearly, his mind is as sound as ever and he was not pushed by anyone to remove

Herzer.

Klieger said Redstone is ``well-cared for'' and that many of the people

put in place by Herzer are still with him.

``He knew exactly what he was doing,'' Klieger said. ``He didn't want

her in that position and he removed her. He had the capacity to make that

decision and he made it of his own free will.''

Cowan has presided over months of pretrial hearings concerning the

petition filed by Manuela Herzer. O'Donnell said his client will at some point

be a witness.

Redstone was executive chairman of both Viacom and CBS Corp. until

stepping down in February.

Today's testimony started with the video deposition given by Redstone on

Thursday. The public was excluded while it is played before Cowan, but a

transcript was released afterward.

``Did you ever say that Manuela was the love of your life?,'' O'Donnell

asked Redstone.

``Yes,'' Redstone replied.

``Do you still love her?'' O'Donnell inquired.

``No,'' Redstone said.

Asked to explain why he did not explain to Herzer why he was ordering

her out of his house and his life, Redstone answered, ``Because she's a

(expletive) bitch.''

Herzer contends she oversaw Redstone's daily care until she was evicted

from his house on Oct. 12 in a confrontation with his driver, who told her,

``Mr. Redstone doesn't want you here.''

O'Donnell said he believes Redstone was ``brainwashed'' into allowing

those around him to evict Herzer.

A Redstone health-care directive created last October will be the focus

of the first part of the trial, with a possible second phase dealing with a

second directive created last month.

Redstone turns 93 on May 27.

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Case Dismissed

 

 

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A judge today dismissed a bid by Sumner Redstone's

former girlfriend to regain control of his health care, finding the media mogul

was of sound mind when he removed her from that position last October.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Cowan granted a motion by

Redstone's attorneys to toss Manuela Herzer's petition. They argued the 92-year-

old billionaire knew what he was doing when he decided he no longer wanted her

in charge of making medical decisions on his behalf and that he was not the

subject of undue influence of his family members and his caretakers.

Cowan cited the testimony of Redstone, which he viewed Friday on video,

a day after lawyers on both sides questioned him at Redstone's Beverly Park

home.

``Redstone had not otherwise intended to appear at trial in view of the

medical risks and difficulties involved in doing so,'' Cowan wrote in his 17-

page decision. ``However, Redstone's testimony has ultimately defeated her

case.''

Though Redstone had some problems speaking and swallowing, he was clear

about his intentions, Cowan found.

``The court was able to see the strong conviction he had about what he

said,'' Cowan wrote. ``He was very composed and did not appear angry. The court

does not believe Redstone had any confusion about what he was asked., about his

wishes or the reasons for his wishes.''

Asked by one of his lawyers what he wanted the judge to do, Redstone

replied he desired that his daughter, Shari Redstone, serve as his health care

agent, Cowan wrote.

``Redstone made crystal clear at his deposition that the reason he did

not want Herzer as his agent was that he had kicked her out of his home,''

Cowan wrote. ``He did not trust her because he believed she had lied to him and

stolen money from him.''

According to a transcript of the Redstone deposition, he was emphatic

when he said he no longer wanted Herzer around.

``Did you ever say that Manuela was the love of your life?,'' Herzer's

lawyer, Pierce O'Donnell, asked Redstone.

``Yes,'' Redstone replied.

``Do you still love her?'' O'Donnell inquired.

``No,'' Redstone said.

Asked to explain why he did not explain to Herzer why he was ordering

her out of his house and his life, Redstone answered, ``Because she's a

(expletive) bitch.''

Herzer contends she oversaw Redstone's daily care until she was evicted

from his house on Oct. 12 in a confrontation with his driver, who told her,

``Mr. Redstone doesn't want you here.''

O'Donnell said he believes Redstone was ``brainwashed'' into allowing

those around him to evict Herzer.

O'Donnell made a brief statement in court today, naming the witnesses he

intended to call, but acknowledging he expected Cowan to finalize his

tentative ruling.

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  • 3 weeks later...

There could be some legal challenges ahead between Redstone & Dauman.

 

B&C stated this morning that Viacom chairman Philippe Dauman (and the rest of the Viacom board) is prepared for a legal battle, should Sumner Redstone move to replace the current Viacom board. Because of these reports, Viacom's stock has went up for the first time since the start of the year.

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There could be some legal challenges ahead between Redstone & Dauman.

 

B&C stated this morning that Viacom chairman Philippe Dauman (and the rest of the Viacom board) is prepared for a legal battle, should Sumner Redstone move to replace the current Viacom board. Because of these reports, Viacom's stock has went up for the first time since the start of the year.

 

As we know he was just found competent by a judge in L.A. as far as handling his own affairs. Judges allow for a little Craziness within reason for a 92 year old.

Redstone does seem to know the difference between sex and steak ...cuz that's what they say he is really into.

 

Leave him alone and just wait it out, what else can you really do?

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