Lawyers for former Viacom and CBS chairman Sumner Redstone and his ex-companion Manuela Herzer are reportedly in settlement talks and a deal could be reached as early as today, according to several published reports.
While details of the potential settlement are unclear, it would end an increasingly embarrassing chapter in the media mogul’s recent history. Herzer, Redstone’s former girlfriend and caregiver, filed suit in November after she was removed as his official health care agent. Herzer claimed that Redstone was incompetent and lacked the mental capacity to make decisions regarding his own health care.
Herzer was replaced as Redstone’s health care agent by Viacom executive chairman and CEO Philippe Dauman. According to some reports, Dauman relinquished his oversight of his former boss’ health decisions earlier this week to Redstone’s daughter Shari.
A settlement would avoid a lengthy and potentially embarrassing trial. Already depositions that were scheduled to be taken of Dauman and Shari Redstone in anticipation of a May 6 trial date, have been canceled, reports said.
