Dauman Responds to Charges by Redstone

By Jon Lafayette
( 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.

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.