Sumner Redstone mental competence case dismissed as ex-girlfriend files $100 million lawsuit

A US judge has dismissed a lawsuit over the mental competence of former chairman of media giants Viacom and CBS, Sumner Redstone, it was reported on Monday (9 May). Manuela Herzer, the former girlfriend of Redstone, had been seeking to overturn a judges ruling that she be removed as the 92-year-old's healthcare giver, but has filed a $100m lawsuit as her lawyers appeal the courts decision.

Their relationship ended badly, with Redstone calling his ex-girlfriend a f****** bitch". He demanded that she get "out of my life", in an expletive-filled video taken at his home in Beverly Hills.

Judge David Cowan's ruling stated: "There is no good cause for further judicial involvement where the court has now heard directly from Redstone that he has lost trust in Herzer, does not want her in his life and instead wants his daughter Shari to look after him as necessary."

He added that Redstone is "presumed to have capacity" to change his healthcare agent. The judge also said Redstone appeared to be in pain and struggled to speak clearly, but showed no confusion about what he was asked, and what he wanted, according to reports by CNBC.

Lawyers for 52-year-old Herzer said that Redstone was being manipulated by his daughter. Herzer's lawsuit also contained details about Redstone's incontinence and sexual desires. In response, Redstone's lawyers said Argentian-born Herzer was emotionally abusive and attempted to isolate the billionaire from his family.

From court documents released last week, it was revealed that the media mogul had given Herzer and another of his ex-girlfriends, Sydney Holland, the amount of $150m (£104m) from 2010 until 2015. Holland was told to leave Redstone's California mansion in August 2015 after she confessed to being unfaithful.

Pierce O'Donnell, Herzer's lawyer, said he would bring an appeal against the decision and that Herzer has filed a $100m (£69.3m) lawsuit against Redstone's daughter, Shari, plus her sons, care nurses and other employees of the media mogul. According to the New York Times, the suit claims that Redstone is at the heart of a "spy network" that has swayed his decisions.