Sumner Redstone's ex-girlfriend said he was incompetent, the judge disagreed, and his daughter took control of CBS and Viacom

Sumner Redstone controlled CBS and Viacom through National Amusements, whose voting stock sat in a trust to be run after his death by seven trustees, including Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. In October 2015, at 92, Redstone removed his companion Manuela Herzer as his health-care agent and from his estate plan, where she had been in line for about $70 million and his Beverly Park house^†. Herzer sued in Los Angeles, alleging he lacked capacity and was under the control of his daughter Shari. In May 2016 Judge David Cowan dismissed the case after one day of testimony, relying on a video deposition of Redstone. Less than two weeks later Redstone removed Dauman and director George Abrams from the controlling trust. They sued in Massachusetts; Dauman left Viacom in August 2016^†. Herzer's team announced a $100 million suit against Shari Redstone alleging spying. Shari merged CBS and Viacom in 2019. After her father's death she sold control to Skydance, and Paramount Skydance was formed in August 2025^†.