Most of Rather's CBS lawsuit tossed

NEW YORK, April 10 (UPI) -- A Supreme Court of the State of New York justice Thursday dismissed much of the breach-of-contract lawsuit Dan Rather filed against CBS and other defendants.

The veteran newsman claims in his lawsuit that the network violated his contract by giving him little on-camera work to do after it ousted him from the "CBS Evening News" in 2005.

Justice Ira Gammerman denied CBS' request to dismiss the entire lawsuit, however. Rather's attorney said the ruling "leaves in place the entire essence of Mr. Rather's lawsuit," The New York Times reported.

The justice tossed out individual allegations against Sumner M. Redstone, executive chairman of CBS; Leslie Moonves, chief executive of CBS; and Andrew Heyward, former president of CBS News.

"We are gratified that the court has dismissed the vast majority of Mr. Rather's claims, including the spurious claims against Mr. Redstone, Mr. Moonves and Mr. Heyward, as well as the false charges of fraud, tortious interference with prospective business relations, breach of good faith and fair dealing," CBS Corp. said in a statement. "With respect to the few remaining claims, relevant to his contract, there are no facts to support them, and we expect them to be dismissed when the discovery process is complete."