Dauman Responds to Charges by Redstone

By ( Broadcasting & Cable )
Published

In a court filing Monday, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman responded to charges made by his long-time boss and the company’s controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone.

Dauman said that an examination by a geriatric psychiatrist presented by Redstone showing that the 93-year-old mogul was capable of making decisions was “one-sided, uncross-examined and distorted.”

He also said that the idea that the current trustees can ratify the move made by Redstone to remove Dauman and another long-time director for the trust that will control Redstone’s $40 billion media empire is specious.

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Redstone moved to remove Dauman and George Abrams as trustees of the trust and also as directors of National Amusements, Redstone’s privately held company that owns 80% voting interests in CBS and Viacom.

Dauman and Abrams sued in Massachusetts and are seeking expedited discovery.  A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.