Britney Spears will not be forced to undergo a grilling by lawyers for her father, who she’s battling over his handling of her 13-year conservatorship, a judge ordered today.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny ruled that the 40 year-old pop star doesn’t have to submit to a deposition.
That would have seen Jamie Spears’ attorneys interrogate her about her accusations that her dad mismanaged her conservatorship, pocketed millions from her and electronically spied on her, even in her bedroom.
Deposing Britney ‘is unlikely to provide any discoverable information,’ Judge Penny told the court as she denied Jamie’s motion calling for Britney to sit for the interview.
‘There exist alternative and less burdensome means to seek information.’
Her lawyer Matthew Rosengart told the court that forcing the fragile star to endure the deposition would also ‘re-traumatize’ her. Neither Britney nor Jamie attended Wednesday’s hearing.
Britney has been highly critical of 70 year-old Jamie and other members of the Spears family since her controversial conservatorship was dissolved by Judge Penny last November.
As a result, Jamie’s attorney, Alex Weingarten filed the motion calling for the blonde Grammy-winner to be deposed over what he called her ’incendiary allegations of various factual matters’ that she’s made, many of them on social media.
Britney Spears, pictured, won’t have to undergo a deposition at her father Jamie’s behest, a California court ruled Wednesday
The lawyer for Britney Spears, Mathew Rosengart, arrives at the Ventura County courthouse for the arraignment hearing of Jason Alexander
Protesters outside of Los Angeles Superior Court for Britney Spears court hearing on July 27, 2022 in Los Angles, California
Under oath: Earlier this month, Jamie was ordered by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to take part in a deposition about his actions heading the conservatorship
Britney’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart objected, saying forcing her to sit through a deposition would be ‘retaliatory’ and ‘abusing the legal process’, amid an attempted probe of Jamie’s management of her funds and alleged surveillance of the singer.
In new court documents filed yesterday, Rosengart revealed that he would not be calling Britney as a witness if the case goes to trial and that ‘eviscerates’ any reason to depose her.
Instead, he will only be using documents, physical evidence and Jamie’s testimony, since as any testimony from Britney herself ‘would not be relevant,’ he said.
Accusing Jamie of ‘bullying and intimidation,’ Rosengart added that his motion to depose his famous daughter, Rosengart ‘demonstrates Jamie’s intent to harass, harm and re-traumatize Britney Spears.’
Rosengart maintained that the Baby One More Time singer cannot testify to matters about the conservatorship since she was the one living under it, and that she would be traumatized again in facing questions about it.
He suggested that Jamie’s legal team should either depose Jamie or Britney’s ex-business manager Lou Taylor for information on the Jamie’s running of the conservatorship.
Earlier this month, Jamie himself was ordered by Judge Penny to submit to a deposition by Britney’s legal team about the way he ran her conservatorship for 13 years.
Judge Brenda Penny ruled that Jamie must schedule the depo by August 12, since he was reportedly served with previous notices to sit for a deposition from Britney’s lawyer and did not appear.
Rosengart said in an earlier court filing that Jamie had been ‘running and hiding’ from being deposed, and must account ‘for his misconduct – under oath – as required by law.’
Another issue heard before the court was Jamie’s request that Britney’s estate pay the attorney’s fees he’s run up since the termination of the conservatorship eight months ago.
After he was dropped by his previous attorneys, he hired Weingarten at a reportedly hourly rate of around $1,200.
Rosengart has called Jamie’s demand for legal fees, ‘not only legally meritless but an abomination.’
‘Mr. Spears reaped many millions of dollars from Britney as a conservator, while paying his lawyers millions more, all from Britney’s work and hard-earned money,’ the attorney said.
Favorite hobby: As the news broke that Britney will not testify at trial, the singer shared yet another video of her dancing by herself inside her new $11.8M Calabasas mansion on Tuesday
Telling Judge Penny that he ‘respectfully disagreed’ with her decision to deny his motion to depose Britney, Weingarten told the court Wednesday, ‘We only have arguments made by (Britney’s) counsel.
‘We have no evidence. We have no declaration from Ms. Spears……about her unsubstantiated allegations about financial impropriety and surveillance.
‘Without a declaration from Ms. Spears, I don’t see how the court can reach the conclusion that the information we seek is beyond the sole of her knowledge.’
On Rosengart’s revelation that he will not be calling Britney as a witness, Weingarten scoffed that asking the star to testify is not his (Rosengart’s) ’exclusive prerogative.’ He too could call her to the witness stand.
‘I am entitled to conduct discovery,’ said Weingarten. ‘I believe I am entitled to depose her and I believe the information she has to be relevant to this case.’
He called Rosengart’s contention that Britney, ‘is not a party to these proceedings’ a ‘fantasy.’ ‘Clearly she is a party to these proceedings.’
Rosengart countered, saying that Weingarten was trying to create the impression that it was ‘mandatory’ for Britney to give a deposition. ‘But that’s not true,’ he added.
‘Mr Spears is the best person to provide information on his misconduct. He does not need to depose his daughter.
‘His daughter feels traumatized by what she went through at his hands for more than a decade. That is what she believes.
‘He has told the world that he loves his daughter. If that is true, he should accept the court’s decision (to deny Jamie’s request to depose Britney).
‘It’s what a decent man would do. It’s what a decent human being would do.’
Calling Rosengart’s words ‘incredibly unfortunate theatrics’, Weinstein told the court, ‘Mr. Spears did right by his daughter. The conservatorship was for her benefit.
‘He is proud of what he did for her….to protect her against the Svengalis, the Rasputins…..
‘My client did nothing wrong. Mr. Spears will be vindicated.
‘There is no basis to support the basis for the court order (to deny Britney’s depo). Counsel says Ms. Spears doesn’t know anything – but she’s posting (online) about everything she knows and is alleging.’
Weingarten’s assertion that Jamie ‘will be vindicated’ prompted Rosengart to loudly declare, ‘That’s impossible. It’s preposterous and it’s wrong.
‘There is evidence on record regarding his (Jamie’s) misconduct….his illicit, inexcusable mismanagement and diversion of resources.’
Rosengart accused Jamie of trying to lift a court seal on Britney’s private medical records, risking them being made public.
Calling the action ‘morally abominable,’ he asked, ‘What kind of man does that? What kind of father does that? Not a father who loves his daughter.’
As the news broke that Britney will not testify at trial, the singer shared yet another video of her dancing by herself inside her new $11.8M six-bedroom Calabasas mansion on Tuesday night.
The newlywed – who boasts 156.4M social media followers – posted a 30-second video of herself showing off her moves to pop rival Rihanna’s 2016 song Love on the Brain.
In it, Britney – who rocked a messy ponytail – flaunted her taut tummy in a cinched black T-shirt, red plaid shorts, and pastel sneakers.
Britney captioned her hastily-edited clip with three rose emojis, indicating she’s still dreaming up the mysterious ‘Project Rose.’
Having fun! In it, Britney – who rocked a messy ponytail – flaunted her taut tummy in a cinched black T-shirt, red plaid shorts, and pastel sneakers
Obsessed! Spears captioned her hastily-edited clip with three rose emojis, indicating she’s still dreaming up the mysterious ‘Project Rose’
On Monday, Page Six reported that the Mississippi-born beauty secretly recorded a duet of the 1971 classic Tiny Dancer with legendary pop star Elton John in Beverly Hills last week.
The remix produced by Andrew Watt will reportedly be released by Universal Music next month.
‘They’ve already played it for people at their record label, and everybody is freaking out. It is so good,’ a music industry source told the site.
‘They are saying this is going to be the song of the summer. Britney is officially back. She’s back to work, and she’s super excited.’
Dream team? On Monday it was reported that the Mississippi-born beauty secretly recorded a duet of the 1971 classic Tiny Dancer with legendary pop star Elton John (pictured in 2013)
Britney has shared two videos of herself singing a cappella – on July 15 and on December 22 – but she hasn’t released a full-blown record since her ninth studio album Glory back in 2016.
Spears will next portray a mystery role in Sam Levinson, Reza Fahim, and The Weeknd’s six-episode drama The Idol for HBO.
The former Mouseketeer also signed a $15M deal with Simon & Schuster in February to publish her tell-all memoir – according to Page Six.
‘I haven’t shared my voice in an extremely long time’: Britney has shared two videos of herself singing a cappella – on July 15 (pictured) and on December 22 – but she hasn’t released a full-blown record since her ninth studio album Glory back in 2016
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