Sumner Redstone ordered to have court-appointed guardian because of a speech impediment

Sumner Redstone, the controlling shareholder of CBS and Viacom, has been ordered placed under court-appointed guardianship because of his difficulty speaking.

The 95-year-old media mogul will be under the supervision of a guardian ‘ad litem’ – a legal term that means an individual who acts on behalf of another, usually a child or an incapacitated adult, in a lawsuit.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Cowan said he was appointing the guardian because Redstone has extreme difficulty speaking, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Samuel Ingham, III has reportedly been offered the guardianship, according to Deadline. 

In 2008, Ingham was appointed the guardian of Britney Spears after the pop star had a very public mental health breakdown believed to have been caused by substance abuse.

Redstone’s mental capacity is not at issue, the judge said.

Redstone is the majority owner of a trust, National Amusements Inc, which holds almost 80 per cent of voting stakes in CBS and Viacom.

Sumner Redstone, the controlling shareholder of CBS and Viacom, has been ordered placed under court-appointed guardianship because of his difficulty speaking. He is seen above in 2014 (left) alongside actress Megan Fox (right) in Los Angeles

The court’s decision on Monday will have no effect on Redstone’s control of the trust, which will remain valid until he either dies or is incapacitated.

If and when Redstone is deemed incapacitated, the trust would then be overseen by seven trustees, including his daughter, Shari Redstone, and his grandson, Tyler Korff.

It was Korff who filed the legal motion asking the court to appoint an independent attorney as guardian ad litem.

Redstone had communicated to the court that he supports ‘the Court’s appointment of an independent guardian ad litem to represent my interests in this proceeding,’ according to Hollywood Reporter.

‘The judge appointed, with Sumner’s not opposing, a guardian ad litem solely based on Sumner’s physical disability in the form of Sumner’s speech impairment,’ Robert Klieger, Redstone’s lawyer, said.

Shari Redstone

Tyler Korff

Shari Redstone (left), Sumner Redstone’s daughter, and her son, Tyler Korff (right), are seen above. Korff filed the motion in court asking for an independent guardian for his grandfather

‘He made no finding, and specifically did not find, that there’s any mental incapacity.

‘This does not trigger the trust. It has no implications whatsoever for National Amusements, CBS or Viacom.’

The family asked for the appointment of a guardian ad litem in the midst of a battle between Redstone and his former girlfriend, Manuela Herzer.

In 2015, Redstone amended his trust by removing Herzer as one of his heirs.

That same year, Redstone kicked Herzer out of his Beverly Hills mansion and removed her as his health-care agent.

Herzer subsequently sued, claiming that Redstone’s mental abilities were diminished, which would thus invalidate the amended trust.

A trial is set to begin on January 14, according to Variety.

Redstone has also filed a lawsuit against Herzer in an attempt to claw back $75million worth of gifts he gave her.

Herzer alleged that it was Redstone’s daughter, Shari, who was behind the lawsuit.

Herzer’s lawyers asked the judge in Los Angeles to require Sumner Redstone undergo a mental health evaluation, but the request was denied.

The judge, Cowan, has stated that such an evaluation would have no relevance as to Redstone’s mental capacity in 2015, when he amended the trust.

Redstone (seen center in 2012) is in the midst of a legal battle with his former girlfriend, Manuela Herzer (far left). Film producer Robert Evans is seen far right

Redstone (seen center in 2012) is in the midst of a legal battle with his former girlfriend, Manuela Herzer (far left). Film producer Robert Evans is seen far right

Redstone’s lawyers have resisted attempts to have their client give a deposition due to his frail health.

Herzer’s attorney is seizing on that rationale, claiming that Redstone is incapable of understanding what is taking place in his name.

‘Tyler Korff’s motion for a guardian ad litem got the intended consequences – avoiding an exam by an independent geriatric psychiatrist,’ Herzer’s lawyer, Ronald Richards. said.

‘They knew if a [guardian ad litem] was appointed, then whether Mr. Redstone has capacity would be less important in the judge’s mind.’

‘The public and Ms. Herzer have been once again deprived of getting to the truth.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk