Making Sense Of The Britney Spears Conservatorship And #FreeBritney

The Britney Spears conservatorship saga has gone through many twists and turns since it started in 2008. Could it be coming to an end soon?

We recently wrote that Britney's conservatorship was about to reach a crossroads, and it certainly has. According to wide-spread reports, including by TMZ, Britney Spears appeared in probate court on May 10, 2019 to ask the judge overseeing her conservatorship to give her more freedom and ease restrictions that have prevented her from making even basic decisions about her own life, for more than 11 years. In other words, Britney has apparently joined the #FreeBritney movement and is reportedly exploring asking the court to end the conservatorship entirely.

LAS VEGAS, NV - Britney Spears speaks on November 4, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

(Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

Getty

 

What is the #FreeBritney movement? As Rolling Stone detailed, comedians and Britney-fans, Tess Barker and Barbara Grey, started the movement through their podcast, Britney's Gram, and social media. They recently aired a clandestine voice message from someone who claimed to have worked for a law firm involved in the conservatorship. The "Deep Throat" said that Britney had been admitted to a mental health treatment facility against her will, after refusing to resume taking medication for her condition. He also said that Britney's father, conservator Jamie Spears, pulled the plug on her new Las Vegas show because of it.

This report, amid other concerns of #FreeBritney supporters, led to renewed social media support to try to "save" Britney. Britney herself tried to squash the rumors by posting on Instagram that she was doing what was best for herself and warning fans not to believe everything they read and heard.

But Britney took a different stance during last Friday's court hearing. That court hearing was closed to the public, at the request of Britney's court-appointed advocate, who asked the judge to preserve Britney's privacy because issues such as her medical condition and her two sons would be discussed. But TMZ still reported that Britney Spears told the judge that her father admitted her to the treatment facility, and forced her to take drugs, against her will.

Many media outlets have reported that Britney's mother, Lynne Spears, appeared at the court hearing with an attorney and supported her daughter, asking to be kept informed of Britney's medical condition. She also recently liked social media postings by fans that also suggested Britney's conservatorship should end and that she may have been held against her will.

In California, a conservator appointed in probate court does not have legal authority to force a conservatee, like Britney Spears, to receive mental health treatment or psychiatric medications. Another type of conservatorship, called an LPS Conservatorship, does allow for this authority, but unlike traditional conservatorships, these court proceedings can only be initiated by certain government agencies and automatically expire after one year.

In this case, Jamie Spears did not have legal authority to force Britney into treatment or to take psychiatric medications. But that doesn't mean that Britney's reported claim that she was held against her will is wrong. Rather, because Jamie has so much control over Britney's life through the conservatorship - including decisions like whether to get married, to perform or live in Las Vegas, or even if she can drive a car - he easily could have refused to grant consent for Britney to do any number of things unless she agreed to his request to enter the mental health treatment facility.

In other words, Jamie could have indirectly forced her into treatment even if he could not explicitly sign her in against her will. But, even if Jamie Spears did so, he may have done it out of an earnest believe that Britney needed the treatment. TMZ previously reported that Britney was not doing well and her old course of medications stopped working, necessitating heightened treatment.

Also, it's not clear if Jamie Spears really did force Britney into inpatient treatment.  The same TMZ article cited an unnamed insider who said that Jamie was not the one who pushed Britney into the treatment facility. Rather, he was reportedly against the idea, but Britney wanted to check herself in.
The true story remains murky.

So what will happen next?

The judge did not modify the conservatorship -- at least not yet -- but she did order a 730 evaluation. A 730 evaluation refers to California Court Rule 730, which authorizes courts to appoint independent experts to investigate, report to the court, and to testify about any issue the court wants. Some media outlets have reported that these are rare outside of child custody cases, but that is not really the case. Courts in every state routinely use court-appointed experts to evaluate people under a guardianship or conservatorship, or who may be subject to one, to help judges determine if there is truly a need for such a restrictive measure.

Conservatorships, as they are called in California (but called guardianships in most other states), are among the harshest remedies in the American legal system. They are only to be used when no lesser restrictive alternative will suffice.

Conservatorships and guardianships are most frequently used for aging adults who suffer from dementia or other age-related mental disorders. They are less common for those suffering from mental illness. Indeed, studies estimate that nearly one in five adults Americans suffer from some type of mental illness, and between 4.5% and 6% of adults in our country experience severe mental illness. But only a fraction of these need the oversight of a court-appointed guardian or conservator.

In California, the legal test for conservatorship is very high. The person must be unable to provide for basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter, or be incapable of making medical decisions.  For financial decisions, the requirement is a person being unable to manage financial affairs or resist undue influence.

Does Britney still meet this legal test, after 11 years? Her many accomplishments in that time frame suggest otherwise, including serving as a judge and mentor on the former TV show, X Factor, and performing in her own Las Vegas show for four years, which grossed a reported $138 million.
At least on the surface, these accomplishments alone make it very odd that Britney remains under conservatorship, unable to provide even for basic needs like food and shelter. But could there more to the story than has been publicly revealed?

The details surrounding Britney's mental health have been kept private. She is clearly suffering from some sort of mental illness or condition, but we don't what it is, how hard it is treat, and what will happen without the control of a conservator. Is Britney's affliction so severe that, without the drastic remedy of conservatorship, her life will spiral out of control as it did in 2007 and 2008? Or, as her mother recently said to paparazzi, is Britney doing "wonderful"? Has she progressed enough to be ready to at least try taking control over some aspects of her own life?

Right now, not even the judge has the answers. That is why she ordered the 730 evaluation. Once that is complete, an expert, or team of experts -- which will undoubtedly include at least one doctor -- will make a recommendation and report to the judge. The judge may also permit the experts to be examined under oath in court. Only then will the judge have enough information about Britney's current condition to know if Britney Spears is ready to be free.

And if Britney is found to be ready, it does not mean that changes will happen all at once. Rather, California law - like other states - permits less-restrictive alternatives than full conservatorship. For example, Britney could decide where to live, work, and whom to marry, but not be permitted to manage her own finances or move out of state. The law not only encourages, but requires, that conservatorships be the least restrictive alternative possible.

This leads us to perhaps the biggest factor that casts a shadow over Britney Spear's conservatorship:  The money. Britney reportedly earned $672 million during her career up until 2016, according to MoneyNation.com. Yet her annual conservatorship filings reported her net worth as of early 2018 to be $56 million, only slightly above her reported 2007 net worth, of $54 million. With gross earnings soaring during her Vegas run, especially considering her lucrative concerts, endorsements and merchandising, some have questioned whether Britney should be worth more by now.

Regardless of those questions, one clear fact remains - Britney Spears' talent, image, and popularity amount to big, big business. Some level of control over her will likely remain for the foreseeable future, if for nothing else than to help her manage the money. There is too much, financially, at stake for this to aspect to change when the judge makes her decision, expected to be in September.

But that doesn't mean that Britney can't be free from conservatorship for many important decisions in her life, and perhaps, eventually, all of them. But she'll have to first be given the right to prove herself by making the basic decisions. And if Britney Spears can show that's she capable of handling responsibility without the help of a conservator for some decisions, then more and more autonomy should follow.

As #FreeBritney supporters ask, after 11 years, isn't it time for Britney Spears to be given the chance to at least try making some decisions? That will depend on what the results of the upcoming evaluation and report will be.

Britney fans should prepare themselves that the evaluation may not come out the way they hope. TMZ just released another report, this time with Britney Spears' manager going on the record.  He questions whether Britney will ever work again and confirmed that her medications stopped working. That, combined with Britney being distraught over her father's recent illness, ended the recent Las Vegas residency - perhaps permanently.

We will learn more in September. The only thing certain for now is that no one can accurately predict what will happen then.

Danielle & Andy Mayoras are husband-and-wife attorneys, TV Hosts, authors of Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!, on-camera media experts, and keynote speakers.

Full Article & Source:
Making Sense Of The Britney Spears Conservatorship And #FreeBritney

See Also:
Britney Spears attends hearing, conservatorship continued until Sept. 18

As Britney Spears Nears Crossroads, Will Her Conservator Let Her Get Married?

How Britney Spears Overcame Financial Hardship, Custody Battles and Repeated Heartbreak to Find a Surprisingly Normal World 

As Britney Spears Nears Crossroads, Will Her Conservator Let Her Get Married?

The Great Britney Spears Debate: Does she still need a conservator? Back in 2008, it was clear - the pop superstar needed serious help. Rehab didn't work. Therapy wasn't enough. Without dramatic court intervention, Britney Spears' career - and her very life in fact - were at risk.

April 12, 2018 - Britney Spears arrives at GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. 

(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Britney herself credits her father, Jamie Spears, with saving her life. When he was appointed as one of her court-ordered conservators, Jamie Spears (along with attorney Andrew Wallet), assumed legal responsibility for making all of Britney's decisions. Where does she live? How does she spend her money? What career moves should she make? And even, can she get married?

Conservatorship, called guardianship in many states, is a dramatic remedy saved for only adults who lack the ability to make proper decisions for themselves. Typically, it's used for seniors with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia, or adults with long-term problems like traumatic brain injuries. Before Britney, the long-term use of a conservator for an out-of-control young celebrity was unheard of.

But Britney certainly needed extraordinary help after her public meltdowns in 2007 and 2008 that included shaving her head, locking herself in a bathroom with one of her sons, battling substance abuse, and more. Her parents made the difficult decision to ask a court to intervene, and in the process, turn her life around.

To this day, the conservatorship remains in place. Jamie Spears and Andrew Wallet have to report to the court each year how every dime that Britney owns is managed and spent. Because conservator court proceedings are a matter of public record, anyone can go to the courthouse and look up how much Britney spends on manicures, Starbucks, child support, and more each year. And she cannot spend money on anything without her conservators' permission.

The process has been used to protect Britney through years of ups and downs. There have been custody and support disputes related to her divorce from Kevin Federline, lawsuits filed against her by former manager Sam Lufti and others, and contracts to negotiate for her to serve as a TV judge and mentor on The X-Factor, among many others. Throughout it all, Britney has been able to focus on what she does best - sing and perform her music and be a mother to her two boys, now ages 12 and 13.

But the conservatorship process can't continue forever, can it?  Big changes on that front are certainly coming. Andrew Wallet recently stepped down as one of her conservators, leaving Britney's father as the sole decision-maker. And Jamie, age 66, suffered a serious health crisis when his colon suddenly ruptured in November, 2018, leading to two different surgeries. Britney's planned second Las Vegas show was postponed so she could be with her father during his long recovery. She said publicly that her father nearly died from his condition.

At the same time, there also have been recent reports that Britney's growing relationship with boyfriend, Sam Asghari, may be progressing towards marriage. If tabloid reports are to be believed, a family friend says that Jamie is against the idea of another marriage for Britney because of the legal complications that a marriage would create. Without her father's permission, Britney cannot get married -- at least, she can't marry while the conservatorship remains in place.

With these difficult issues lingering, Britney's career keeps moving forward. Her upcoming Las Vegas show, Dominion, is on hold indefinitely, but not forever. Her first show was too successful - bringing in a reported $138 million during its four-year run - for there not to be a sequel. In fact, Britney Spears is guaranteed $500,000 per show for the next Vegas run. Beyond that, there is a new Britney-inspired musical comedy, Once Upon A One More Time, coming to Broadway soon, featuring 23 Britney Spears' songs. But all of this success makes the unresolved questions even more difficult to answer.

Will Jamie, with his health concerns, step aside and turn the decision-making over to Britney? Or is the concern over her mental health too great for her to take on this responsibility? And if Jamie cannot continue in this role, will a stranger be given the authority to make these decisions?

Reportedly, Britney's boyfriend has been a stabilizing force in her life, helping her cope with her father's medical struggles. But similar things were said during her engagement in 2011 to Jason Trawick, which ended with broken hearts rather than a wedding. Perhaps Jamie fears that this relationship will end the same way.

One thing is certain - the status quo that has worked so well for Britney Spears over the course of more than ten years is likely to change soon. On one hand, the conservatorship has worked, so it makes sense to leave it in place, even if Jamie is no longer able to handle the role. But on the other hand, many celebrities have multi-million dollar deals, difficult family dynamics, and other complications to manage and do so without someone else possessing the authority to make their decisions. Even celebrities with troubled pasts still have the right to decide when and whom to marry. Shouldn't Britney's growth and success over more than ten years have earned her that right too?
If the court overseeing her conservatorship does not feel that she is ready to take this on, then the answer will be "no," unless her father approves. And right now, he likely is t0o focused on recovering to make difficult decisions with long-term implications like these. So Britney Spears is left in limbo, for now.

So what do you think: Does Britney Spears still need a conservator? We explore the topic in an upcoming episode of our television series, Fortune Fights, on the REELZ cable network.

Regardless of how you view this issue, one thing is clear - guardianship and conservatorship proceedings can save lives, but can also go too far. These are court-imposed remedies of last resort, because taking away someone's rights to decide where and how to live, spend, and marry should never be done unless truly necessary.

Perhaps we'll all find out in the near future if Britney Spears is ready for her basic rights as an adult to be restored.

Full Article & Source:
As Britney Spears Nears Crossroads, Will Her Conservator Let Her Get Married?

See Also:
How Britney Spears Overcame Financial Hardship, Custody Battles and Repeated Heartbreak to Find a Surprisingly Normal World 

Britney Spears‘ father officially gives up his role as her conservator after 11 years

After a difficult year in which she‘s had to cancel a major tour and fight wild online conspiracy theories about her family, things don‘t look likely to settle down for beloved pop star Britney Spears.

Britney‘s father, Jamie Spears, has temporarily stepped down as her legal conservator, after spending 11 years with wide-ranging legal powers over the pop star‘s life and career.

The move came after Jamie was accused of physically assaulting one of Britney‘s teenage sons, Sean. According to reports, after the incident, Britney‘s two sons sought restraining orders against Jamie, reports.

In another shocking twist, Britney‘s psychiatrist and doctor, Dr Timothy Benson, recently died after reportedly suffering a brain aneurysm. Dr Benson was due to present evidence to the court regarding Britney‘s care while under Jamie‘s conservatorship.

Britney‘s newly appointed temporary conservator, Jodi Montgomery, has been granted similar, wide reaching powers to look after the 37-year-old singer, and her affairs, until January 31, 2020, according to ET.

The conservatorship was put in place after Britney was involved in a string of high profile and highly publicised incidents from 2006 to 2008.

These included her shaving her head, being photographed in unflattering circumstances at a patrol station and, attacking a car with an umbrella.

At the same time, Britney was hotly pursued by paparazzi, and was a new mother. At the beginning of 2008, she entered into a custody battle with the father of her children, ex-husband Kevin Federline.

That same month, Britney was involuntary put into psychiatric care. By February, after almost two years of highly publicised public meltdowns, Britney‘s father Jamie was granted the temporary conservatorship of his daughter. Six months later, this conservatorship was made permanent, according to Fox Business.

A conservatorship is a status used in the US legal system, where an individual is considered to be legally under the care of another person, who is sometimes referred to as their “guardian”.

It is put in place where a person is suffering from conditions that place limitations on their ability to care for themselves. The person might be suffering from a mental condition that in some way makes them unable to make decisions over some, or all parts of their lives.

While Britney‘s conservatorship has been in place since 2008, in May of this year, Britney met with a judge to discuss issues to do with the conservatorship. The judge ruled the conservatorship needed to be evaluated.

NEW CONSERVATOR APPROVED BY JUDGE IN LA

While the evaluation continues, Ms Montgomery, who has worked with Britney for the past 12 months as her care manager, has been granted the role of Britney‘s new conservator.

According to court documents obtained by Billboard, Ms Montgomery is “an experienced professional fiduciary with ability, experience, and support resources, to take on these obligations during this time and has been the care manager for Spears for approximately a year”.

A Los Angeles judge approved the change on Monday.

If the court does find that Jamie‘s care of Britney was wanting, it‘s likely Lynne Spears, Britney‘s mother, or Kevin Federline, her ex-husband, will challenge the conservatorship that lasted more than a decade.

The issue has become so heated it has recently been at the centre of an online conspiracy, buffeted by the hashtag #freebritney.

In that case, it‘s likely Britney‘s father will be permanently removed from his role as the pop star‘s guardian.

It‘s worth remembering, before Britney sensationally cancelled her Britney: Domination Vegas residency in January, her conservatorship had largely been viewed as a handshake agreement between her and her father.

Despite being under the binding agreement, Britney had continued to tour, release music and make perfumes.

But Britney‘s Instagram post in January, announcing the cancellation of her upcoming residency in Vegas shocked many, and started a wave of fan‘s theorising wildly about Britney‘s personal freedom.

“I‘ve been looking forward to this show and seeing all of you this year, so doing this breaks my heart,” she wrote on Instagram. “However, it‘s important to always put your family first … and that‘s the decision I had to make.”

Full Article & Source:
Britney Spears‘ father officially gives up his role as her conservator after 11 years

Britney Spears Officially Files Petition to Remove Dad Jamie as Conservator, Requests Jason Rubin

By Jeff Nelson and Tomás Mier

 

Britney Spears has officially taken steps to oust her father from her conservatorship.

On Monday, the pop star's lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, filed a petition in court to remove her father Jamie Spears as her financial conservator and replace him with Jason Rubin, a certified public accountant at Certified Strategies Inc, to manage her estate, which is worth $58 million, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

According to his employer's website, Rubin has practiced as a forensic accountant since 1993 and has testified as an expert witness in hundreds of cases.

"Ms. Spears respectfully submits that the Court should appoint her nominee; in that, it is an objectively intelligent preference to nominate a highly qualified, professional fiduciary in this circumstance," the documents read. "Moreover, Ms. Spears respectfully submits that, given the Court's recognition at the July 14, 2021, hearing that Ms. Spears has sufficient capacity to choose her own legal counsel, she likewise has sufficient capacity to make this nomination."

Spears' next court date is set for Dec. 13.

Britney Spears; Jamie Spears

| Credit: Getty; Shutterstock

This move is the latest in Britney's ongoing 13-year conservatorship saga. After a public breakdown, Britney was placed under a conservatorship in 2008, and a judge then appointed Jamie as both the conservator of her person and the conservator of her estate.

In 2019, Jamie stepped down as the conservator of her person after an alleged physical altercation with Britney and ex-husband Kevin Federline's son Sean Preston, 15. (The exes are also parents to son Jayden James, 14.) At the time, Jodi Montgomery, a care manager, took over as Britney's conservator of her person.

Jamie and Britney Spears

| Credit: Chris Farina/Corbis/Getty

RELATED: Britney Spears Conservatorship Case: Read Her Full Statement 

On June 23, Britney, 39, delivered emotional testimony in court, telling the judge why she believed Jamie should no longer be the conservator of her estate — and revealing for the first time that she wanted the conservatorship to end.

"I've lied and told the whole world I'm okay and I'm happy. It's a lie. I've been in denial. I've been in shock. I am traumatized. Fake it 'til you make it, but now I'm telling you the truth, okay? I'm not happy. I can't sleep. I'm depressed. I cry every day," Britney said in court.

During the same hearing, Jamie's attorney Vivian Lee Thoreen addressed the court to share a statement from her client, saying, "[Jamie] is sorry to see his daughter in so much pain. [He] loves his daughter and misses her very much."

Following Britney's bombshell testimony, several players involved in the conservatorship resigned, including her longtime court-appointed attorney Sam Ingham III.

At a July 14 hearing, Britney scored a major win in her conservatorship case when the judge allowed her to hire her own attorney, former federal prosecutor Rosengart. In the same hearing, Britney — who called into the hearing over the phone — accused Jamie of abuse.

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari; Jamie Spears

| Credit: Vivien Killilea/Getty; Alex Berliner/BEI/Shutterstock

RELATED: Britney Spears' Conservator Accuses Jamie Spears of Using Over $2M of Singer's Funds to Defend Himself

"I would like to charge my father with conservatorship abuse," she reportedly said in a tearful testimony. "I want to press charges against my father today. I want an investigation into my dad."

At the hearing, Britney also called her conservatorship "f----ing cruelty" and alleged that she was living with severe limitations, including not being able to drink coffee, saying, "If this is not abuse, I don't know what is," according to CNN. (A lawyer for Jamie did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment at the time.)

One day ahead of Britney's June hearing, The New York Times published a report citing sealed court documents and transcripts from 2016 between Britney and a probate investigator

"She articulated she feels the conservatorship has become an oppressive and controlling tool against her," a court investigator wrote in 2016, adding that Spears reportedly believed the legal system had "too much control."

"She is 'sick of being taken advantage of' and she said she is the one working and earning her money but everyone around her is on her payroll," the investigator added then.

Credit: Kevin Mazur/BCU18/Getty

 

Spears also said that her father was "obsessed" with her and wanted to control everything about her life, according to theTimes. The singer alleged she was unable to make friends, was limited to a $2,000 weekly allowance and was not allowed to spend her own money to make cosmetic changes to her home without her father's permission, the Times reported. (That same year, she met her boyfriend Sam Asghari on the set of her "Slumber Party" music video.)

Britney's 2016 sentiments echo what her former lawyer told a judge during a November 2020 court hearing that she was "afraid of her father" when the judge declined Britney's request to make Montgomery her permanent conservator.

"She will not perform again if her father is in charge of her career," he said at the time. (Thoreen, one of Jamie's attorneys, refuted the claim as hearsay.)

Full Article & Source:

Britney Spears Officially Files Petition to Remove Dad Jamie as Conservator, Requests Jason Rubin

The Investigative Reporting Behind America’s Obsession With Britney Spears’ Conservatorship

Years ago, ProPublica Managing Editor Robin Fields investigated California conservatorships. Recently, she interviewed New York Times Senior Story Editor Liz Day about the reporting in the “Framing Britney Spears” documentary. 

 

Britney Spears in Hollywood in 2019. Credit: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images

by Robin Fields

No investigative story ever really ends.

If you don’t believe me, here’s an example from my own reporting days.

In 2005, when I was at the Los Angeles Times, I was part of a team that investigated what California calls probate conservatorship.

Our stories explained that the system was designed to help families protect enfeebled relatives from predators and self-neglect. In such cases, courts took basic freedoms from grown men and women and gave conservators sweeping power over their money and the smallest details of their lives.

California had better mechanisms than most states to ensure people didn’t become needlessly ensnared in the system — on paper. Yet in reality, those protections turned out to be either ineffective or easy to circumvent, our stories showed. As a result, so-called professional conservators were able to swiftly take control of strangers’ lives and estates. In the worst cases, conservators victimized their wards, charging them exorbitant fees, neglecting their needs and sometimes looting their assets.

After the series ran, there was a gratifying push to address many of the systemic weaknesses our journalism exposed. At that point, my job seemingly done, I moved on to other reporting assignments and eventually editing.

Then, in 2008, pop star Britney Spears was placed under conservatorship in Los Angeles County, in the very courthouse where I had spent innumerable hours excavating records. I remember reading about the case and thinking, that’s odd. Virtually none of the people whose cases I’d encountered were healthy enough to navigate the supermarket, let alone a world tour.

Over the last several months, there’s been an upsurge of reporting on the Spears conservatorship, including The New York Times’ documentary “Framing Britney Spears.” What’s been uncovered about her case suggests that not much of what we exposed was ever fixed. I know Liz Day — the co-creator of the documentary and a senior story editor at the Times — from the days when she was ProPublica’s head of research.

I emailed and asked if she’d be kind enough to discuss her work on the Spears story with a fellow conservatorship nerd. She agreed, and we spoke on July 2. Here are the highlights of our conversation, which has been edited and condensed:

What drew you to the subject of Britney Spears’ conservatorship for your reporting, and ultimately for a documentary?

I had long wanted to do a documentary about Britney Spears because we're in a similar age group, and I feel like I grew up with her. When I was in high school, she was kind of America’s golden girl pop princess. And then when I was in college, she was just completely battered by the paparazzi and the tabloids. So it felt like her arc alone was very rich to explore. And then, obviously, I’d been aware of the conservatorship and kind of attracted by the mystery and paradox that it presents. Conservatorships are supposed to be reserved for seriously infirm or elderly people with dementia. Yet this person, Britney, was able to work and make millions of dollars performing and be a huge superstar. So how can those two things be true? It was a story in which you could concentrate on this specific person, but [also] zoom out and understand power and money and family dynamics and the legal system.

What aspects of the story did you find the most interesting or the most surprising?

I’m surprised, even to this day, that there are basic questions about this conservatorship and guardianship standards at large. For example, Britney’s court-appointed counsel, does he have to do what she tells him that she wants done? Or does he have to do what he thinks is in her best interest? I’ve talked to multiple experts, and each one gives a different shade of nuance to that answer. I’m just endlessly surprised by the lack of clear standards and agreed-upon rules in this world.

Give us some insight into how you pursued the reporting on this story. How did you start? What were the steps after that?

We started with the premise of just reexamining Britney in the way that “O.J.: Made in America” examined that story, with a new lens two decades on. We tried to read and watch everything that has ever been done on Britney or that she’s appeared in. And from there we built a gigantic spreadsheet with every possible source that we could contact and just started making calls and talking to people. There were a lot of reasons for people to be hesitant, because this is an ongoing legal case. People felt very burned by the press in the past. There’s a lot of NDAs, a lot of barriers.

We used a pretty simple pitch, which was: We want to correct misperceptions about Britney and/or the conservatorship. I think a lot of people felt that there were things they wanted the public to understand. We started to get people to talk off the record or on background, and then we’d get them to go on the record, get them to go on camera.

Shortly after we started, for the first time in the decade-long conservatorship, public filings started being filed saying Britney wants changes, she wants her dad out, she wants more transparency. We just parked ourselves at the courthouse and tried to capture that unfolding drama.

How limiting was it that this is a case in which a lot of the court records are confidential, and Britney herself and a lot of members of her family have been unwilling to talk?

It’s been very difficult because many, if not most, of the court records are sealed. As Adam Streisand, a lawyer in the documentary, says, “We don't know what we don’t know.” But I will say that we have actually opened a lot of doors and seen many of the things that we couldn't know. And the closer we got, only more questions were raised as to whether this conservatorship is appropriate or in Britney’s best interest. We made a lot of effort every which way to try to reach [Britney], but we don’t know whether she got the requests. One of the powers that her conservators have is to restrict any and all visitors to Britney.

I should also note we made a lot of effort for her father to participate in the documentary and our follow-up reporting, going to his representatives and lawyer saying, if not him, please provide someone who can present his point of view. But they ultimately declined repeated requests.

Were there particular facts or elements you found that just made the hairs on the back of your neck tingle?

A systemic issue that I think is shocking is that Britney has to pay for everyone. In this case, she not only pays for her own court-appointed counsel, she pays for her dad’s lawyers — he has multiple sets of lawyers who are actively fighting against her wishes in court. Recently, one set of her dad’s lawyers billed $890,000 for roughly four months of work, which is about $10,000 a day. And that includes PR specialists that were defending the conservatorship to the media.

Yeah, that brings me back. That was a big theme of the reporting we did as well.

Yeah, I think Britney’s case is both extremely unique, but also universal in some ways to the guardianship or conservatorship system. Britney’s is very unusual [in] that she’s actively going out and performing and making money. So she’s a very unusual conservatee. Her own lawyer has called her a high-functioning conservatee, which conservatorship experts have noted is an oxymoron in the conservatorship system. If you’re high-functioning, how are you a conservatee?

The other thing that’s very interesting about Britney performing is that the conservators of the estate have the ability to enter into contracts for her. She’s the one doing the work, yet she’s not the one legally who is even able to consent and sign the deal. That raises all sorts of questions when her father, as conservator of the estate, is being paid not only a salary, but also was approved by the court to get a percentage of various deals that are multimillion-dollar deals. If he makes a decision for Britney to do a second Las Vegas residency, is that because it’s in her best interest? Or because he could make a percentage of that deal?

Why do you think this particular case and your reporting on it has lit such a fuse among so many people?

I think for a few reasons. My colleague, Samantha Stark, the director of the documentary, didn’t know much about Britney when we started the project, but she was really attracted to why Britney has such a rabid fan base. She really wanted to understand, like, why do people love her so much? I think she found a lot of emotion in their stories. A lot of Britney’s fans identify as outsiders and thus they emotionally really connect with her arc and the various trials that she’s been through.

I think also it shines light on this very little understood corner of the legal system that is very important. You know, we don’t even know how many conservatorships there are in America. It’s estimated at a million, but any of us could one day potentially be forced into a conservatorship. So I think it’s important to understand it’s an extreme last resort that can take away so many basic rights. It’s really important that the system works properly, as it should.

Do you think that another element woven through here is that this is a grown woman who’s been entrusted to the care of her father? There seems to be a powerful strand of misogyny in this case.

Yes, I think that’s a very fair observation. A lot of cultural observers note there are a lot of male rock stars and celebrities who are allowed to do whatever they want with the money that they’ve earned whether or not their parents or outsiders approve. So I think that’s a valid question. We know that Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys was under a conservatorship, so it’s not as if there’s never been a male celebrity under one. But I think that’s very fair.

Where do things stand in the case as of today and where do things go from here?

Britney spoke last week in court and made some really explosive allegations against the conservatorship and her management and her father. She’s also very blatantly said, I don’t want to be in this, I want this over with, I want my life back. This is abusive.

A few days ago, Britney’s father, Jamie, filed two court filings, one of which was calling for an investigation into the various claims Britney made. We know that yesterday, Bessemer Trust, which is the professional wealth management firm that had been approved to join as co-conservator of the estate alongside Jamie, asked the court for permission to resign. They said in their court filing, we were told that this was a voluntary conservatorship, and last week Britney said she doesn’t want to be in this. We’ll have to see if the court approves their application to resign.

The other thing that’s important to note about where we stand is that Britney’s court-appointed counsel, Sam Ingham, has not yet filed a petition to terminate the conservatorship, which is what Britney said she wanted, to end it without having a medical evaluation. And he has not yet done that. [Note: On July 6, a few days after this conversation, Samuel Ingham III filed a motion to resign as Spears’ court-appointed attorney.] So will someone involved in the case file an official petition to terminate it? Will a medical evaluation be required? Will Jamie oppose a petition to terminate? There’s also a question of whether Britney will try to hire a new lawyer of her choosing. She pointed out in her speech that while she’s grown closer to her court-appointed lawyer, she never had the opportunity to choose her own lawyer and she would like to do that. So that’s also a potential next step.

Full Article & Source:

The Investigative Reporting Behind America’s Obsession With Britney Spears’ Conservatorship

Britney Spears’ conservatorship documents will stay sealed to protect medical records

Jamie Spears, father of singer Britney Spears, leaves the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, left, and Britney Spears arrives at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas in 2015.
(Associated Press)

By Nardine Saad

Britney Spears’ conservatorship is over, but the legal proceedings in its wake have continued. And they’re getting even more contentious.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny granted a motion Wednesday to seal the termination plan of the singer’s nearly 14-year conservatorship to protect her “right to privacy over her private medical information.” Penny also rejected Spears’ father’s request to reserve funds in the conservatorship, according to court documents reviewed Thursday by The Times.

Those decisions were made during a heated hearing discussing finances and accounting, as well as requests made by several former attorneys to collect legal fees incurred.

Going into the hearing Wednesday, the entertainer’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart, who was instrumental in ending her conservatorship in November, rejected the notion that Spears should pay her father Jamie Spears’ estimated $30 million in legal bills while he served as her conservator. Rosengart also fervently shut down Jamie’s attorney’s suggestion to have the entertainer’s medical records unsealed.

In court filings, Rosengart fired off a litany of objections to Jamie Spears’ requests, accusing him of financial misconduct and other improprieties such as reading his 40-year-old daughter’s therapy notes and privileged communications with her lawyers.

The tension continued in the courtroom Wednesday when the attorneys squabbled over purported “lies” that they believe shaped public opinion about the case.

Jamie Spears’ attorney, Alex M. Weingarten, accused Rosengart of planting fake stories in the media, Variety reported, an allegation that Rosengart vehemently denied.

Rosengart reportedly asked that Weingarten be admonished: “He has attacked me. He has attacked this court. And it is intolerable,” Rosengart said.

Mathew Rosengart, attorney for Britney Spears, leaves a hearing that terminated the pop singer’s conservatorship at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse on Nov. 12, 2021.

(Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

Indeed, much of the “... Baby One More Time” hit-maker’s case had been shrouded in mystery, but the singer finally spoke up and asserted last summer that she felt constrained and abused under the legal arrangement, which long controlled her day-to-day activities, as well as her finances, for nearly 14 years before it was terminated.

Weingarten in court Wednesday reportedly contended that the conservatorship was put into place because the singer “was irresponsible with her finances.” But Penny shut down that declaration, reportedly saying: “Please, let’s not go there. Let’s not go down that road.”

The process of closing the case still seems far from over. Rosengart has asked for an evidentiary hearing on accounting to be scheduled, and new court dates are to be set for issues involving the singer’s management, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group, and other parties.

The next major hearing in the case has been set for July 27. Others have been scheduled for March 16, April 1 and Dec. 2, according to court records.

Prior to Wednesday’s hearing, attorneys for Jamie Spears and ex-wife Lynne Spears filed petitions for payment of attorney fees. Jamie Spears’ legal team had argued that his daughter’s estate should pay for his legal expenses in order to ensure that the conservatorship is closed out properly and because Jamie had engaged in no wrongdoing.

But in a 256-page objection to Jamie Spears’ request filed this week, Rosengart accused Jamie Spears of offenses such as “abuse to conflicts of interest, financial mismanagement and corruption of the conservatorship to implicating state and federal criminal law.”

Jamie Spears, the longtime former conservator of the singer’s lucrative estate, allegedly paid almost $6 million from Britney’s estate to the Black Box Security firm, which obtained private phone records for Britney’s mother and others, the New York Times reported.

It also confirmed media reports that Jamie hired Black Box Security to monitor Britney’s phone, including her communications with her lawyer, secretly recorded her in her bedroom and obtained GPS “ping data” to track the locations of people close to the singer, the court documents said.

Additionally, a declaration filed for Kroll forensic investigator Sherine Ebadi — a former FBI agent retained by the singer’s legal team — corroborated the bombshell allegations made in an FX documentary that Jamie Spears illegally surveilled his daughter and concluded that he could be subject to criminal prosecution. The investigation also identified several instances in which Jamie Spears engaged in financial misconduct, self-dealing and mismanagement as conservator.

In court Wednesday, Rosengart said that the investigation yielded “strong evidence” that Jamie Spears was involved in “very intense and potentially illegal” surveillance of the performer.

The conservatorship case has not only shed light on Britney Spears’ legal arrangement but broader issues revolving around conservatorships as a whole. On Wednesday, disability rights groups and members of the viral #FreeBritney Los Angeles chapter joined California Assembly Member Brian Maienschein to promote legislation they say will prioritize less restrictive alternatives to conservatorships and establish greater protections for conservatees.

Wednesday’s hearing also took place amid an escalating media feud between Britney and her younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears. 

Rosengart sent a cease-and-desist letter to Jamie Lynn, 30, on Monday threatening legal action if she continues to speak about Britney while promoting her new book, “Things I Should Have Said.”

Britney has already accused Jamie Lynn of hawking her memoir at Britney’s “expense,” while the younger Spears continued to give interviews about the tome. Jamie Lynn has claimed that her book “is not about” Britney, but it still references her repeatedly.

The sisters have been trading barbs all week on social media, with Britney lashing out at her sister for publicly discussing their lives and the conservatorship before Britney has had a chance to. (Last week, the Sun reported that Spears might be in talks with Oprah Winfrey for a sit-down interview.)

Rosengart’s letter calls the book “ill-timed” and accuses Jamie Lynn of making “misleading or outrageous claims” about Britney. The letter also demands that Jamie Lynn “cease and desist from referencing Britney derogatorily” during her promotional campaign. If she fails to do so or defames the singer, “Britney will be forced to consider and take all appropriate legal action.”

“Britney has not read and does not intend to read your book, she and millions of her fans were shocked to see how you have exploited her for monetary gain. She will not tolerate it, nor should she,” reads the letter, which was obtained by TMZ and Page Six.

pic.twitter.com/y22JZP4oI0

— Britney Spears (@britneyspears) January 15, 2022

 

Full Article & Source:

Britney Spears’ conservatorship documents will stay sealed to protect medical records

Britney Spears' Life Post-Conservatorship

By Lauren Conlin

In November 2021, Britney Spears made national headlines when her 13-year conservatorship came to an end, thanks to endless court hearings and the outpouring of support from her fans and #FREEBRITNEY organizers. An ecstatic Spears tweeted, "Good God I love my fans so much it's crazy !!! I think I'm gonna cry the rest of the day !!!! Best day ever ... praise the Lord ... can I get an Amen ????" Accompanying the note was a video of supporters cheering for Spears outside of a Los Angeles courthouse.

During the brutal ordeal where Spears' father, Jamie, controlled her finances and most aspects of her life, the singer says she was forced to perform and wasn't allowed to drink coffee or tea, go on vacations with her boyfriend, or even visit the spa during her Las Vegas residency, to name a few things that hindered her life. "I'm here to remind them all that being treated like an equal individual doesn't require much ... just RESPECT," she wrote on Instagram in January 2022.

Her life post-conservatorship has had its ups and downs. She released her first new music in a long time, collaborating with Elton John on "Hold Me Closer" in August. "I'm learning everyday is a clean slate to try and be a better person and do what makes me happy ... yes I choose happiness today," Spears tweeted when promoting the song. At the same time, Spears' Instagram activity has some onlookers concerned for the pop legend's wellbeing. We're rooting for you, Britney!

 Britney Spears feuded with Jamie Lynn over tell-all book

After Britney Spears' sister Jamie Lynn Spears released a memoir titled "Things I Should Have Said" in early 2022, Britney's lawyer issued a cease and desist letter almost immediately. According to Nylon, Jamie Lynn appeared to be doing a press tour for the book and was discussing her past with Britney. Part of the letter written by Britney's attorney Matthew Rosengart read, "Although Britney has not read and does not intend to read your book, she and millions of her fans were shocked to see how you have exploited her for monetary gain. She will not tolerate it, nor should she." The letter was published online by Variety, and went on to claim that the release of Jamie Lynn's book was timed poorly. Rosengart added, "...we, therefore, demand that you cease and desist from referencing Britney derogatorily during your promotional campaign."

Britney went to Instagram (via Billboard) to detail additional grievances she had against her sister, explaining that while she had to work, Jamie-Lynn was pampered by her parents — getting chocolate milkshakes served to her, being allowed to watch television for hours on end, and floating on a raft in their pool. Britney also mentioned that she was shocked when Jamie Lynn was able to get her own show on Nickelodeon at age 12. Jamie Lynn's memoir garnered many negative reviews before it was actually released.

 Britney Spears suffered a miscarriage

According to Us Weekly, during one of the hearings to end Spears' conservatorship, she spoke out saying that she one day wanted to start a family but was not allowed to remove her IUD. After being freed, Spears happily announced on her favorite social media platform, Instagram, that she and Sam Asghari were expecting. Fans and friends were thrilled for the star as she seemed incredibly excited to start this new chapter of her life.

Unfortunately, about a month later, Spears returned to Instagram to share some devastating news. "It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that we have lost our miracle baby early in the pregnancy. This is a devastating time for any parent. Perhaps we should have waited to announce until we were further along however we were overly excited to share the good news. Our love for each other is our strength. We will continue trying to expand our beautiful family."

Paris Hilton and many others offered words of support and condolences on her post. Perhaps the sweetest comment came from Asghari himself: "We will have a miracle soon (heart emoji)." Asghari elaborated on wanting to be a father in an interview with GQ, where he expressed continued hope. "Nothing in the world that can take me off that path. My life is too amazing to be able to take my mind off optimism and positivity and all that."

She married Sam Asghari in a surprise wedding

In a shocking and exciting surprise wedding at their Los Angeles home, Britney Spears married Sam Asghari, providing their wedding guests with little to no notice. Spears gushed that celebrities Selena Gomez, Madonna, and Drew Barrymore attended the nuptials. Paris Hilton even told Chelsea Handler (who was filling in for Jimmy Kimmel) that she bailed on a political engagement to attend her friend's celebration. Hilton said, "I was asked by President Biden and their team to deejay for that summit dinner with all the leaders of the world. But it was the same night of Britney's wedding, and then I'm like, 'No, I'm not going to miss that.'" Hilton told Handler that despite the president's people offering her a helicopter to dip in and out of both events, she wouldn't do it. Now, that's a good friend!

Spears wore a custom dress made by Donatella Versace and then changed outfits two more times throughout the night. Celebs "ooohed" and "ahhhed" over the gorgeous pictures that Paris Hilton posted on Instagram, where her caption read, "#Icons only. Had the most incredible time celebrating the fairytale couple. What a beautiful night!" In the "icons only" photo were Hilton, Madonna, Gomez, Versace, Barrymore, and Spears herself. However, no wedding is complete without some drama. TMZ reported that Spears' ex-husband Jason Alexander tried to crash the wedding by breaking into her home! He was apprehended and no one was hurt, thank goodness.

Her sons chose not to attend her wedding

Britney Spears has not been very discreet about the disdain she has for her immediate family, which is why she made it clear that none of them were invited to her wedding — except her sons, Jayden James and Sean Preston. Kevin Federline, the boys' father and Spears' ex, had his attorney issue a statement on behalf of their sons. "Although the boys will not be in attendance, Kevin and the boys are happy for Britney and wish her and Sam all the best going forward," explained attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, according to TMZ. There were also rumors that Spears was inviting her older brother, Bryan, which turned out to be untrue, Spears shared on Instagram (via Harper's Bazaar).

In the wake of her sons' absence, many were curious as to why the boys did not attend. Some speculated that they had been uncomfortable with their famous mother's use of social media; perhaps the way Spears often posted nude photos of herself didn't sit well with them. Jayden James, 16, sat down with ITV News to shed some light on why their relationship is strained. "It's like almost as if she has to post something on Instagram to get attention. This has gone on for years and years and years, and there's a high chance that this is never gonna really stop, but I'm hoping for me, maybe she will," he said. His mother responded with an Instagram post expressing her sadness and her desire to talk with Jayden in person.

Britney Spears traveled with her husband

After Britney Spears married Sam Asghari, the happy couple wasted no time jumping on a plane to a secret tropical location for their honeymoon. Elaine Renoire, president of the National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse, explained that during Spears' conservatorship, "Anything she wants to do, she has to ask permission, as if she were a child" (via Vox). Spears seemingly has the freedom to take vacations now.

According to E! News, Spears posted about her honeymoon trip on Instagram (the post has since been deleted, like many others), and appeared to be in great spirits, despite the fact that she mentioned the weather wasn't great, wherever she was. It was clear that she was so thrilled to be on a vacation with her husband, at long last, without having to clear it with a lawyer or parent. Spears has posted herself dancing in French Polynesia, she uploaded a birthday picture of herself in the sand on an undisclosed beach, she shared several posts with captions about a trip to Mexico, and she threw it back to a Maui trip featuring agent Cade Hudson.

We hope Britney is relaxing and enjoying herself, although it's hard to tell exactly what she is up to...

Britney's behavior remains odd on social media

Fans became increasingly worried for Britney Spears as her social media posts became more frequent, with more nudity, and more strange captions. Many expressed concerns on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram, with commentary videos circulating among fans regarding Spears' whereabouts. TV host and TikToker Lauren-Ashley Beck noted the oddity of Britney making a positive post about Jamie Lynn (on Britney's birthday). Though the pics of Jamie Lynn remained on her grid, the supportive caption was removed. Fans also realized in 2022 that Britney oddly changed the Instagram name in her bio to "Channel 8," though she is still using the @britneyspears username.

Britney has deleted her Instagram account more than once — this seemed to be her MO for some time, as well as turning her comments section on and off. The deactivations, Britney has said, have been by accident a couple of times (via TMZ). In December 2022, Sam Asghari responded to his wife's social media use. "Social media can be traumatizing. Sometimes it's good to take a break. She has her voice and is a free woman. I have respect for her privacy and I protect it at all times. Thank you to all of her protective fans," Asghari wrote in an Instagram Story (via BuzzFeed News). He explained that it was stressful for Britney to attend public events, too. BuzzFeed News had previously reported that Britney wasn't happy when Asghari started up an Instagram Live and invited her to say something.

No one knows exactly what her life is like

People on the internet have theorized that Britney Spears went missing. She posted in December 2022 that she and Sam Asghari would visit New York City, but there was no sign of her or paparazzi that week in NYC. TMZ's sources claimed that Spears was going on vacation to Mexico and mentioned New York as a decoy. The outlet reported that her parents, Jamie and Lynne, were in Los Angeles at the time. Similarly, fans were puzzled in January 2023 by TMZ's report that Spears attended Cade Hudson's birthday party — and Spears denied attending any party.

Before these occurrences, Spears wrote a lengthy Instagram post in November to say, "Still breathing ... it's funny the same two people who gave me life are the same exact 2 people who took it away," clearly referencing her parents. Spears also declared, "I hear about people wanting to do movies about my life ... dude I'm not dead !!!" (This after Millie Bobby Brown told Drew Barrymore she'd love to play Spears in a biopic.)

By this point, some might have imagined that Spears would give an interview or release a book — she reportedly signed a $15 million deal with Simon & Schuster in early 2022. However, Spears released a 22-minute, since-deleted voice memo on Twitter in August. In the recording, she reportedly unpacks being treated horribly during her conservatorship and explains that she's declined lucrative offers to talk to Oprah and others. "For me, it's beyond a proper sit-down interview," she says of her story (via Newsweek). 

Full Article & Source:
Britney Spears' Life Post-Conservatorship