An expert witness in the mental competency trial for Sumner Redstone said that the Viacom and CBS Corp. chairman emeritus’ mental status has been “severely compromised.”
Taking the stand Friday, Dr. Stephen Read, a witness for Redstone’s former caregiver Manuela Herzer, said, “My opinion is that his mental status was severely compromised to a degree that he does not have the requisite mental capacity to understand and appreciate the consequences of his actions changing his health care directive in October 16, 2015.”
Herzer, a former girlfriend who served as Redstone’s caregiver until last October, is seeking a court’s judgment that Redstone, 92, was unable to tend to his own affairs at the time and that she was wrongfully removed from her position.