Heyward, Moonves To Be Deposed in Rather Suit

The judge in Dan Rather‘s case against his former employer has ordered CBS to produce several witnesses for depositions including former CBS News president Andrew Heyward and CBS CEO Les Moonves.

The court ruled Wednesday that the depositions would go forward, with Heyward’s scheduled for the end of this month and Moonves’ expected in September.

The network’s chief counsel, Jim Quinn, tells TVNewser, “We’re looking forward to them testifying,” adding, “they will support our case that CBS did nothing wrong by Dan Rather. In fact, the opposite is true. They did everything right by him.”

Rather’s lawyer tells TVNewser, Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone may also be deposed, but the court ruled the Heyward and Moonves depositions would be taken first, and that he would rule on CBS’s objection to Redstone testifying, later.

A status conference is set for October. The case could go to trial by November.

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