“The mental competency of Sumner Redstone could be openly challenged as his longtime companion Manuela Herzer — who was ejected from Redstone’s life in October — might be set to square off against the frail 92-year-old Viacom and CBS executive chairman’s family, which recently has taken a leading role in his care,” reports veteran entertainment reporter Kim Masters in The Hollywood Reporter.

The story reports: “Herzer, who a source says was Redstone’s health care agent until his daughter, Shari, and her family asserted themselves in his life in September, has retained Pierce O’Donnell, the combative litigator who represented Donald Sterling’s wife, Shelly, in her successful battle to have Sterling declared incompetent, leading to a $2 billion sale of the L.A. Clippers in 2014.”

The story adds: “A source close to Herzer, 51, who had been involved with Redstone for 18 years, says she saw a sudden, serious decline in his mental state in the weeks before she was banished from his Beverly Park mansion in October. ‘It is now clear to the person who is closest to [Redstone] that, sadly, he is in twilight mentally,’ Herzer’s associate tells THR. (Herzer declined comment beyond her lawyer’s statement.) According to this person, Redstone ‘clearly expressed multiple times that he wanted her to be his protector and caregiver.’”

Masters also reports that “Viacom declined comment on Redstone’s household affairs, but top executives have insisted he is ‘sharp as a tack.’”

To read more details about this story we urge you to click here, which will take you to Masters’ original piece.

Sumner Redstone talks with Charlie Rose
on “CBS This Morning” in March, 2014