LOS ANGELES (AP) – A judge on Monday will consider whether a mental evaluation of billionaire media mogul Sumner Redstone should be conducted in response to his ex-girlfriend’s claims that his signature was forged on a recent document.
A recent filing by Redstone’s former companion, Manuela Herzer, prompted the hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Redstone controls CBS Corp. and Viacom Inc. His attorney, Gabrielle Vidal, has stated in court filings that she witnessed Redstone sign the disputed document and a court-ordered evaluation of the 92-year-old is unnecessary.
Herzer dated Redstone and until recently was in charge of making medical decisions for him. That ended in October, when Herzer was kicked out of Redstone’s house.
She contends that a November agreement allowing her to retrieve her belongings was forged, and Redstone lacks the ability to make meaningful decisions.
Vidal has called Herzer a liar who is misrepresenting Redstone’s condition to try to remain a factor in his life. Redstone recently underwent a brain scan, which found no signs of stroke or other impairment, court filings say.
Herzer denies she is motivated by the billionaire’s money, saying he has already paid her tens of millions of dollars and she is merely trying to ensure he gets the care he needs.
Redstone controls CBS and Viacom through National Amusements Inc., which holds nearly 80 percent of the voting stock in both media companies. He hasn’t joined an investor conference call since November 2014.