In his court case he maintains that he was trying to help her, though her parents paint a more sinister picture. Lutfi was a constant presence around Spears during the tumultuous period. The move by Jamie Spears came after months of erratic behavior by his daughter, including shaving her head, speaking in a British accent and other bizarre incidents that also led to her losing custody of her two sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
Lutfi sued in February 2009, roughly a year after Spears was hospitalized and placed under the conservatorship to take control of her health and finances. The order has expired, but conservatorship attorneys are seeking repayment for more than $93,000 in legal fees – a judgment Lutfi is appealing. The case is the culmination of years of acrimony between Lutfi and Spears’ family and conservators, who successfully obtained a restraining order against him to keep him from contacting the singer or trying to intervene in her life. Jury selection began Friday and will continue on Tuesday, with opening statements expected later in the week. It is highly unlikely the star will be a witness during the trial, although a judge has said she will consider a request by Lutfi’s attorney to call Spears as a witness mid-trial if necessary.Ī probate judge overseeing Spears’ conservatorship has ruled that the singer’s caretakers should not allow her to testify “under any circumstances.” Lutfi’s attorney has cited the singer’s record tour and her current role as a judge on Fox’s “The X Factor” as reasons for why the singer should testify, but he may have to settle for the testimony of Spears’ divorced parents, father Jamie Spears and mother Lynne Spears. Instead, the singer spent much of that time recovering under a court-ordered conservatorship, with her father and fiance continuing to exert control over her personal life. He is also seeking a portion of the singer’s profits, claiming he was a key player in her 2007 album Blackout and had the right to serve as her manager for years. Spears’ parents are defendants and will likely testify, but the panel won’t hear directly from the Grammy winner.įormer Spears confidante Sam Lutfi is seeking millions of dollars from Spears and her family, claiming her mother’s book lied about him drugging and isolating the pop superstar.
Instead jurors will begin hearing testimony next week on claims by Spears’ former manager that he was vilified and unfairly blamed for the singer’s public meltdown more than four years ago.
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