Britney Spears’ lawyer calls Jamie Spears’ attorney a liar in courtroom showdown

LOS ANGELES — Fireworks went off in courtroom on Wednesday at Britney Spears’ newest listening to, because the singer and her father’s attorneys went head-to-head in a steady and contentious authorized battle that final roughly three hours.

Although the conservatorship has been terminated, the struggle between the pop star and her father, Jamie Spears, persists, primarily revolving round a disagreement over cost for ongoing lawyer charges and allegations that the pop star was eavesdropped on by a secret surveillance equipment together with her father’s involvement.

“Lies!” exclaimed Spears lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, pointing his finger at Alex Weingarten, the elder Spears’ lawyer, accusing him of creating “nonsensical” and “preposterous” claims. “He needs to be admonished,” Rosengart advised Decide Brenda Penny. “He has attacked me. He has attacked this courtroom. And it’s insupportable.”

Rosengart’s impassioned feedback got here after Weingarten accused Rosengart of creating up false tales — such because the surveillance claims — and planting these tales with the press.

“Nearly the whole lot that’s alleged is demonstratively false or taken out of context,” Weingarten advised the choose, after Rosengart stated his agency has “sturdy proof” that Spears’ father was concerned in “very intense and doubtlessly unlawful” surveillance over the star, which was first alleged by the New York Instances of their bombshell reporting final fall.

“It didn’t occur!” Weingarten shouted, standing up in entrance of the choose, talking concerning the eavesdropping claims. Weingarten didn’t present any proof on disagreeing with the surveillance allegations, apart from theorizing that Rosengart planted the story with the media.

As revealed in a courtroom submitting yesterday, Rosengart’s agency has retained a former FBI particular agent to assist conduct an investigation into Spears’ father’s administration of her property through the conservatorship; the submitting acknowledged that the investigation corroborated claims within the New York Instances that the singer’s father had employed a safety agency, Black Field, to secretly run surveillance on his well-known daughter, monitoring her telephone and planting a listening system into her bed room, which captured communications together with her counsel and her remedy classes.

“The issue is we’re preventing with our fingers behind our again,” Weingarten advised the choose, expressing that Rosengart is utilizing the media and the pop star is utilizing her social media, as a way to get their facet of the story out, he stated. Weingarten then requested the courtroom to unseal information from the whole case, so that individuals can hear the “fact.” He stated the “public has the suitable to know.”

Rosengart categorized the “assaults” as “disgraceful.”

Weingarten then requested the choose to schedule a date to file a movement to unseal all information from the whole conservatorship case. The choose didn’t instantly set a date, and appeared to exhibit some reluctance, referencing the courtroom’s busy calendar.

“We don’t assume a father who loves his daughter would file to unseal her medical information,” Rosengart advised the choose, stating that the elder Spears is barely trying to save his personal popularity, calling his lawyer’s request to unseal information “offensive” and “extremely inappropriate.”

Although Spears’ conservatorship was terminated final fall, it might take months earlier than an settlement could be reached, with the attorneys nonetheless preventing over whether or not the singer should pay authorized payments incurred by her father when he was accountable for her funds.

The following main listening to within the case was set for July 27.

A separate listening to was set for March 16, relating to Rosengart’s objections to lawyer charges requested by the legal professionals for the star’s mom Lynne Spears. A listening to nonetheless must be set to take care of the singer’s former enterprise supervisor, Tri Star Sports activities and Leisure, quashing subpoenas served by the star’s authorized workforce. (Rosengart has accused Tri Star of “stonewalling” his makes an attempt to acquire data for his shopper and has stated his agency was compelled to subject two subpoenas as a result of they might not voluntarily cooperate.)

The one vital order on Wednesday got here from Penny, ruling it was not essential to put aside a reserve from Spears’ property — a request from Weingarten, who requested the choose to order {that a} sure sum of money be put aside within the meantime, to make sure that the attorneys can receives a commission finally.

Earlier than Penny’s ruling within the singer’s favor, Rosengart stated the conservatorship has already been terminated, so his shopper has full management over her cash. He argued that if, finally, there’s a request for her to make extra funds on attorneys charges, the courtroom could make that order down the road.

“Let’s keep in mind why this conservatorship was put in place,” Weingarten stated. “Ms. Spears was irresponsible together with her funds.”

The choose shortly shut down Weingarten’s assertion. “Please, let’s not go there,” Penny stated. “Let’s not go down that highway.”