Attorneys for Sumner Redstone told a judge Friday they will announce by June 21 if they intend to have the media mogul testify in his lawsuit against two female former companions who he alleges manipulated him into giving valuable gifts to them.
Attorneys for Manuela Herzer and Sydney Holland say it would be unfair to have to face Redstone’s testimony at trial without being able to take his deposition before then, but Redstone’s lawyers say their 93-year-old client cannot be deposed because of health reasons.
Holland is Redstone’s former girlfriend and Herzer was a longtime friend. Both formerly lived at Redstone’s Beverly Park mansion.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Hess said he is trying to balance the interests of both sides and be fair.
“I have no ax to grind in this case,” Hess said. “From my perspective, I don’t care who wins.”
But he said that based on what he has heard about Redstone’s poor mental health, the media magnate “may never be better than he is today.”
Attorneys for Herzer and Holland alleged Redstone’s daughter, Shari Redstone, and not her father, is “orchestrating” the case.
“Redstone cannot file a lawsuit, refuse to appear for deposition and produce documents and then move full-steam ahead on discovery against Herzer,” her lawyers state in their court papers. “There must be fairness to the discovery process procedures and the parties’ ability to prepare for trial. How is that equitable by any measure? It is not.”
Redstone filed his lawsuit against Herzer and Holland on Oct. 25. The suit alleges fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and that the defendants put their interests ahead of Redstone’s.
The suit alleges Redstone was manipulated and influenced by Herzer and Holland to make valuable gifts to the women. Redstone is seeking $150 million.
Last May, Herzer sued Shari Redstone, alleging she conspired with Redstone’s nurses to force the plaintiff out of Redstone’s house and deprive her of a $70 million expected inheritance. In a separate ruling Friday, Hess said the claim for intentional interference with the expected inheritance should have been filed in probate court and that he will dismiss it unless it is brought there by May 30.
Hess said Herzer’s violation of privacy claims will have to be shored up before they can proceed before him.
Herzer’s attorney, Ronald Richards, said he will bring the inheritance interference claim in probate court by the deadline date.
— City News Service