Ex-CBS News Anchor Dan Rather Files $70 Million Suit Against CBS, Viacom

NEW YORK, September 20:
Former CBS News anchorman Dan Rather has filed a $70-million lawsuit against
CBS Corporation, CBS' former parent company Viacom, and top executives Leslie
Moonves, Sumner Redstone and Andrew Heyward, claiming that the executives
openly violated his trust in the network, intentionally marginalized him within
the organization, and violated the terms of his contract with the network.

The lawsuit, filed by
Rather’s attorneys in New York State Supreme Court yesterday afternoon,
describes how CBS and Viacom, in seeking to curry favor with government
leaders, used Rather as a scapegoat for their own actions related to a 60
Minutes II broadcast that he had
anchored in September 2004 questioning President Bush's service in the Texas
Air National Guard.

The report was later found
to be based on unsubstantiated documents, and led to the dismissal of a
producer, as well as the resignation of three executives. In March 2005, after
more than 20 years as a CBS anchor, Rather stepped down from the position.

Once he had been removed
as anchor at CBS News, Rather claimed that the network, in violation of their
contract with him and the duties stemming from their relationship with him,
effectively removed him from any public reporting for almost two years. Rather
believes that the actions of the network’s executives were driven by their
political agenda to peg him as a scapegoat and intentionally tarnish his
reputation.

Throughout this period,
Rather said that he had relied on promises by CBS and its executives that they
would defend his reputation, and promises Rather claimed that CBS had no
intention of fulfilling, alleging that CBS, Viacom, and their executives
created an atmosphere of distrust and uncertainty, ultimately failing to live
up to their obligations.

Rather is seeking
substantial damages, both compensatory and punitive, for breach of contract,
reputational harm, and fraud related to their unwarranted treatment of him. He
stated that if he recovers a significant amount from this lawsuit, he intends
to donate most of it to causes that will further journalistic independence.

According to The New
York Times, CBS issued a statement
that said: “These complaints are old news and this lawsuit is without merit.”
Heyward said he would not comment beyond the CBS statement. A Viacom spokesman
said he had no comment.