Fred Prouser/Reuters
Viacom CEO Philippe P. Dauman alleged in a suit filed Monday that former chief Sumner Redstone is mentally incompetent and is under the influence of his estranged daughter. Dauman and Viacom director George Abrams filed the suit as part of a challenge to their removal from a trust that will control Redstone’s companies when he passes away or is ruled no longer competent. In the 24-page filing, Redstone, 92, is depicted as suffering “profound physical and mental illness.” In November, Manuela Herzer—a former companion of Redstone’s—filed another suit alleging that Redstone was not competent and was unduly influenced by his daughter, with whom he recently connected. Herzer’s suit was recently dismissed. The new suit argues Redstone is now entirely dependent on his daughter for care, food, and medicine.