Britney and Her Boys Still Day-Tripping

The following italicized article is from www.eonline.com:

Britney Spears shouldn't go planning any slumber parties just yet.

While the time she's spent with her two children over the past month has seemingly proved beneficial to all parties involved, overnight visits with Sean Preston and Jayden James are still a ways off, according to Kevin Federline's resident legal eagle, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

The attorney told E! News Friday that the monitored visits between Spears and her sons "have been nothing out of the norm," but that "there has to be consistency over time.

"I don't think 30 or 40 days is the magic number," Kaplan said.

After nearly two months of separation, Spears' visitation privileges were restored Feb. 22—after her father, Jamie Spears, and his attorneys reached a deal with K-Fed's camp—and she saw them the following day for the first time since Jan. 3, when she was briefly hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following a custody-fueled standoff with police at her Beverly Hills home.

Kaplan continues to credit Jamie Spears' newfound presence in his daughter's life for this noticeably more amiable state of affairs.

"All we know is that since Jamie Spears has been involved it has been a very stabilizing force," he said.

The elder Spears has been serving as coconservator of the pop star's estate since Feb. 1, when she was admitted to UCLA Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation. Jamie and a court-approved psychiatrist are required to be present when Spears spends time with her sons.

Kaplan said that the next custody-related hearing is expected to take place in May, and he's still anticipating a trial, in preparation of which he has deposed a number of Spears' friends and associates, including off-again, on-again manager Larry Rudolph.

Regardless of what anyone says about him, it's still Federline's intention to do the right thing for his children, the lawyer said.

"The goal is to have a stabilizing and consistent order for the kids," Kaplan said. "His hope is that would involve the participation in a substantial way by their mother."

Federline has had primary custody of Sean and Jayden since October, when Spears was stripped of her 50-50 deal after a court commissioner determined she had violated numerous directives, including his orders that she make herself available for random drug testing and acquire proper insurance and a California license before getting behind the wheel with her kids in the car.

Source: E! Online

Britney Screwed Every Which Way

The following italicized article is from www.tmz.com:

Talk about screwed up -- Britney Spears is having to pay her new lawyer big bucks for challeging another lawyer's bill.Our sources tell us, Stacy Phillips, Brit's lawyer du jour, took K-Fed's deposition this past Monday. Phillips grilled Federleze like a cheeseburger, asking him about ... his lawyer's bill!

That's right, Mark Vincent Kaplan is asking for a cool half mil for repping K-Daddy these past five months and he wants Brit to pay. We're told Phillips will challenge that bill in court on Monday.

We're also told Phillips deposed MVK (last Tuesday), along with his former publicist, Michael Sands (last Wednesday) about precisely the same issue -- the reasonableness of Kaplan's fee.

We haven't been able to find out how much Britney will have to pay Phillips, but are you getting the irony?

Here's what's really ironic. When disso-queen Laura Wasser left the case, Britney had 50/50 custody. Since then, she lost custody, lost visitation and basically has squat -- and it could cost her more than a million bucks in legal fees.

Source: TMZ

Jamie Spears: So What's the Deal With K-Fed?

The following italicized article is from www.tmz.com:

Is this going to piss off Kevin Federline? TMZ is at the law office of Stacy Phillips waiting for Michael Sands' deposition.

Stacy wants Sands to spill the beans on what went down while he was the PR flack for Mark Vincent Kaplan, K-Daddy's lawyer.

Jamie is the co-conservator for Brit, which may explain his presence. The real question -- Sands has split from Kaplan after an ugly break-up and the PR guy is pissed. He's about to arrive.

Stay tuned ...

Source: TMZ

What Is Kevin Hiding?

The following italicized article is taken from www.x17online.com:

Last week, Mark Vincent Kaplan's former spokesperson, Michael Sands, told X17 he was subpoenaed to be deposed for Britney and Kevin's ongoing custody battle.

As the former media spokesperson for K-Fed's attorney, Michael was apparently privy to a lot of information that Kevin and his lawyer don't want exposed!

Life & Style has obtained a letter from Mark Vincent Kaplan, delivered to Michael Sands, requesting "copies of any documents you [Sands] intend to produce in response to the subpoena so that we may review the documents to determine any appropriate objection and basis for protective order."

So what exactly does Mark Vincent Kaplan have to hide?

An insider tells the mag: "Mark wants all emails, hand written records, notes, meeting notes, phone call notes and records, anything that has to do with his client Kevin Federline, to be handed over. He doesn't want anyone seeing the things that have been said privately, and doesn't want anyone to know about the secret plans and quotes said behind closed doors with regards to Britney."

The source goes on to say, "there are a lot of people that are starting to see that what's going on is not as pretty as it seems. Britney is mentally ill, and Kevin and Mark Vincent Kaplan have been making her look bad, taking her to court, keeping her from the kids."

I guess we'll find out more when Michael's deposed on February 20th!

Source: X17

Source: Britney Will See Kids Again

The following italicized article is taken from www.eonline.com:

Britney Spears still has at least 10 days of quality time in the psych ward of UCLA Medical Center.

But, according to an insider closer to Spears' custody battle with Kevin Federline, the "Gimme More" singer's successful completion of her hospital stint would put her on track to regain visitation rights with her children after her discharge.

"It will be monitored visitation, of course," the source tells E! News. "But still, she'll get to see her kids. They are just looking for signs that she's stabilized. But look, if she continues to take whatever medication she needs and sees her doctors regularly, they won't keep her kids from her."

Federline, 29, is aware of the possibility and isn't opposed to the visits.

"As long as she in a stable place, mentally, and there's a monitor there, he's okay with it," the source says.

Spears, 26, hasn't seen sons Sean Preston or Jayden James for more than a month. She is scheduled to remain hospitalized through Valentine's Day. The next hearing in her custody case is Feb. 19.

Separately, the K-Fed camp took a shot from Spears' side on Monday. Michael Sands, the spokesman for Federline lead attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, was the latest person to be subpoenaed in the long-playing custody clash.

Spears' legal eagles at Trope and Trope served Sands Monday, compelling him to submit to a deposition.

While Sands is not commenting on why Team Britney want to talk to him, his attorney, Randolph Wright, offers that they might be trying to press his client on what he knows about Kevin Federline's lifestyle.

"That would make sense," Wright said. "Why else bring in a top media consultant hired for Kevin's case and try to depose him? It seems to me they are trying to find out about the relationship between my client and Kevin Federline."

But Wright added that he suspects Trope and Trope will gain very little by grilling Sands.

"My guess," said Wright, "is that is will be a very short deposition."

Source: E! Online

Alli Sims: Britney Spears 'Will Be Fine'

The following italicized article is taken from www.people.com:

As Britney Spears's confidants are being deposed in her child custody case, Alli Sims says Spears is maintaining a positive outlook.

"She does seem happy," Sims told PEOPLE at Saturday's Hugo Boss/Glamour Studio Glam suite, of Spears, 26. "I'm sure obviously she's going through some things, and a lot, right now. That definitely gets to you.

"I'm not saying that everything is fine," Sims, 26, says. "Obviously, she's worried about stuff, like we all are. She's hanging in there. I'm not worried. She'll get back. She'll be fine."

Sims, who has been away from L.A. traveling, is moving into a new apartment in the Brentwood section of the city. She and Spears talk regularly, Sims says.

"I talked to her today, she's doing good," Sims explains. "I love her to death. She's a sweetheart. ... We have never had a fight. It's so funny, because you're off visiting friends and you're not here, by her side, they're like you're fighting. That's not true at all."

Adds Sims, "I'll probably see her this week."

Last week, Spears' paparazzo-turned-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib gave interviews to Entertainment Tonight and The Insider about his personal relationship with Spears. Sims, who has said she does not like Ghalib, has not seen the interview, she says, but that friends told her about it.

"He's been around, what, three weeks?" Sims tells PEOPLE. "I heard about it just from friends who watched it. I don't really see the point of that. ... I only know him from him following us around for eight months. I don't personally know him. But I don't like that vibe."

Source: People

Britney Goes And Gets Fit!

The following italicized article is taken from www.ok-magazine.com:

Don't sweat the small stuff! Hours after being deposed by Mark Vincent Kaplan, Sam Lutfi escorts Britney Spears to the 24 Hour Fitness gym for some late-night iron-pumping. Is Brit trying to get those abs back?

Source: OK Magazine

K-Fed Lawyer: Britney's Deposition 'Slow Going'

The following italicized article is taken from www.people.com:

Britney Spears's deposition is "slow going," and could drag on for multiple sessions, concedes Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Asked if the deposition could last five or more sessions, Kaplan replied, "It wouldn't surprise me." The attorney, who happened to run into a PEOPLE reporter Wednesday, added, "There are many areas that I have not yet explored."

Spears, 26, has been cross examined for a total of one hour over two sessions. (She has been late to both.)

As of the second session Monday, Kaplan said he'd only completed "two percent" of his questioning, which Spears must answer while under oath. Spears's first session lasted a mere 14 minutes, and occurred just hours before her infamous Jan. 3 meltdown.

The lawyer, who could not reveal specifics, is likely grilling the pop star about past drug and alcohol use, her failure to follow court orders, and anything else that pertains to her parenting. (The questioning lays the groundwork for the Spears-Federline custody trial scheduled for April.)

On Thursday, Kaplan also began deposing Spears confidante Sam Lutfi, who had evaded the sit-down for months.

Source: People

Inside Sam Lutfi's Deposition

The following italicized article is taken from www.ok-magazine.com:

After a quick break for lunch, the deposition of Britney Spears' friend, Sam Lutfi, resumed session this afternoon at 2 p.m. PT in Century City, and OK! has exclusive new details!

A court insider reveals Brit's confidante was asked specifically about whether he may have accepted money from paparazzi photo agencies in exchange for information about Britney, her whereabouts and when she would be "outside on the street on Sundays, strolling or playing with her boys," the insider tells OK!.

One of the other topics reportedly discussed was whether Sam himself took pictures of Britney and the boys, and then tried to sell them to various magazines and TV shows.

Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, is reportedly hell-bent on trying to prove that Britney may have been complicit in the alleged deals Lutfi was trying to make with photo agencies, the insider tells OK!.

Sources tell OK! that according to K-fed and Britney's divorce agreement, neither one of them is allowed to set up photo shoots of the boys without the other's permission.

So, even if Britney did not receive money for pictures of her boys, she was still not allowed be part of any photo shoots involving her sons without Kevin's permission, lest she risk violating the divorce agreement.

Source: OK Magazine

Britney Pal Sam Lutfi Deposed By K-Fed Lawyer

The following italicized article is taken from www.people.com:

Britney Spears confidante Sam Lutfi was deposed Thursday by Kevin Federline's lawyer, a source confirms.

Lutfi has avoided the questioning for months, having evaded being served a notice to appear by Federline's legal team.

Last August, former Israeli commando Aaron Cohen, hired by lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan, tried to subpoena Lutfi by boxing in his car in L.A., but failed to serve him.

Lutfi was finally served on Nov. 7 "in the parking lot of a place in Hollywood," Kaplan told PEOPLE, but pulled a no-show for at least one appointment in November.

Kaplan is gathering evidence in a series of legal interviews of former Spears associates to prepare for trial in April for Federline's request for primary physical custody of the ex-couple's children.

Spears herself has only completed two sessions to date, after missing numerous appointments with Kaplan.

Source: People

Brit's Pal Grilled Like A Cheeseburger

The following italicized article is taken from www.tmz.com:

Sources tell TMZ K-Daddy's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, was all over Sam Lutfi, Brit's close friend, like white on rice during his deposition today.

We're told the depo, which ended just before 6:00 PM, covered a wide range of issues. Sources say Kaplan asked about the meds Brit takes, where she goes, what she does at home, what she drinks, and on and on.

Kaplan also asked Lutfi about his relationship with the photo agency X17 and specifically whether he and Brit have a financial deal where they help X17 get pics of Brit and in return get moolah. X17 has denied there's any deal.

We're told Kaplan asked Lutfi about his income and where he gets it, how he supports himself, etc. We're also told Kaplan asked him about six lawsuits in which he was reportedly sued. We're told Lutfi answered that most of those suits were against his father.

Source: TMZ

Who the Hell Is Sam Lutfi?!

The following italicized article is taken from www.tmz.com:

TMZ has confirmed Britney Spear's right hand man, Sam Lutfi, is currently inside the law offices of Mark Vincent Kaplan, K-Daddy's lawyer, where Lufti is facing a barrage of questions about how he injected himself into Britney's life.

Federleezy's legal pitbull is trying to find out if Brit made a deal with the X17 photo agency to hawk pics of her and the kids, even though X17 denies it. But what about Sam? Who's signing that guy's paychecks? And how does he make his jack?!

We're told Lynn Spears, Brit's mom, has no idea where Sam came from and how he got into Britney's life. All those details will come to light very soon. The depo continues ...

Source: TMZ

Brit's Right Hand Man -- Deposed!

The following italicized article is taken from www.tmz.com:

TMZ has learned Sam Lutfi, the man who has been all around Britney for more than a year, is about to have his deposition taken in the ongoing custody battle.

We're told Lutfi is about to arrive at the offices of K-Daddy's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan. Lutfi has tried to block the depo, even running from Aaron Cohen, who served him with the depo subpoena.

We're told one of the lines of questioning involves the photo agency X17. We're told Kaplan wants to know if Brit made a deal with X17 to "catch" her living life, and if Lutfi is the bagman. If Brit is making money from a photo agency, that wouldn't sit well with the Commish.

Stay tuned ...

Source: TMZ

Britney Again Bolts From Courthouse

The following italicized article is taken from www.people.com:

Once again, Britney Spears arrived for a custody hearing Wednesday – then left the courthouse before it began.

The emergency hearing, which the pop singer had requested, was then held with ex-husband Kevin Federline in the courtroom.

It was a replay of last week's hearing, when Spears showed up at the courthouse only to depart, missing a session in which she lost all access to sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.

Neither Spears nor Federline is required to attend the hearings.

They arrived separately at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse Wednesday morning. Federline was seen entering the courtroom, but a court spokesman said Spears had left in her Mercedes.

Spears, 26, lost visitation rights indefinitely following her brief hospitalization earlier this month after a four-hour custody standoff involving police.

On Monday, she was questioned for 45 minutes by Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan in what the lawyer called a "gut-wrenching" deposition.

Source: People

Britney, K-Fed Arrive For Emergency Hearing

The following italicized article is taken from www.people.com:

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline arrived at a Los Angeles courthouse Wednesday morning for an emergency hearing in their custody battle.

Spears requested the session – a week after losing all access to sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.
The pop singer, who declined to appear in the courtroom at the previous hearing, and her 29-year-old ex-husband arrived separately at the downtown courthouse for the morning hearing.

Spears, 26, lost visitation rights indefinitely following her brief hospitalization earlier this month after a four-hour custody standoff involving police.

On Monday, she was questioned for 45 minutes by Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan in what the lawyer called a "gut-wrenching" deposition.

Source: People

K-Fed Lawyer: Spears Deposition 'Gut-Wrenching'

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

Britney Spears's deposition at the hands of Kevin Federline lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan has been an emotionally difficult experience that has only just begun, Kaplan tells PEOPLE.

"We are going over things that are very, very gut-wrenching," Kaplan said Monday night, speaking outside of Katsuya restaurant in Brentwood. He declined to discuss specifics of the questioning, but said, "Just to revisit them even in your own mind would not be pleasurable."

"It's not something anyone would enjoy," he says.

Spear has a spotty record with past deposition dates in the custody case, missing numerous appointments and sitting for only 14 minutes on Jan. 3. Kaplan is expected to be grilling Spears, 26, about past drug and alcohol use, her failure to comply with court orders and any other subject relating to her fitness as a parent.

After a meltdown and brief forced hospitalization, Spears lost visitation rights with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1. Ex-husband Federline, 29, has sole legal and physical custody.

Even Monday's session was in doubt.

"She was about 50 minutes late," he says. "After an hour I would have been over it. I was prepared to terminate had she not showed at that time."

Spears was spotted biting her fingernails when arriving to Kaplan's Century City Plaza office. After spending more than two hours there, Spears appeared tense and lit up a cigarette behind the wheel of her Mercedes before driving through Beverly Hills listening to Madonna on the stereo.

The deposition on a national holiday Monday was booked after the shortened deposition on Jan. 3. The holiday booking was done to accommodate busy lawyer schedules, says Kaplan, and it "did dovetail into allowing this to be a low-profile appearance."

Kaplan says there will further depositions in the unspecified future, claiming that he has only worked through "2 percent" of his questions.

"There is a lot of work to be done," he says. But he adds he was heartened by the idea of even having the meeting in the first place. "She came for her deposition, that's great," says Kaplan. "Showing up is form over substance."

Source: People Magazine

Britney Spears Leaves Deposition

The following italicized article is from www.pagesix.com:

Britney Spears took an important first step towards getting her kids back on Monday when she showed for her custody deposition at the office of Kevin Federline’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

She stayed for just over two hours and left with confidante Sam Lutfi. On the way out, she was tight-lipped when asked about her photographer beau Adnan Ghalib, but she was in decidedly higher spirits than she was yesterday when she remarked to a homeless man, "You are better off being homeless than being me, sir.

"When PageSix.com asked how she’s feeling today, she told us, “I’m doing fine thanks!”

The pop star has two court dates scheduled next month — on February 3 when her high-powered law firm, Trope and Trope, is expected to withdraw as counsel, as well as a general custody hearing on February 19.

Source: Page Six

Britney Spears Spends More Than Two Hours at Deposition

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

Britney Spears spent more than two hours at the Los Angeles office of Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, Monday for an ongoing deposition in the ex-couple’s custody battle.

At 10:40 a.m., Spears, 26, wearing a dark blue top and jeans, drove up to the office in her white Mercedes-Benz SL65 with friend Sam Lutfi. Both had serious expressions on their faces. The singer was spotted leaving at 1:20 p.m.

The singer has missed numerous appointments for the court-ordered cross examination. She was expected to be grilled about her past drug and alcohol use, her apparent failure to follow court orders and other matters pertaining to her parenting skills.

Federline's attorney will use evidence gathered in depositions to try to convince a court that his client should retain primary physical custody of the ex-couple's children. A custody trial is set for April.

"Kevin wants nothing more than to be able to parent his children with participation by their mother," Kaplan previously told PEOPLE. "But the best interest of the children require that they be in the most sound, safe, nurturing and consistent environment. That is paramount."

On Jan. 3, Spears was deposed for only 14 minutes, after arriving one-and-a-half hours late. That night and into the next morning Spears had a four-hour standoff with police, ending with her brief hospitalization.

Last Monday, the singer lost all visitation rights to sons Preston, 2, and Jayden 1, indefinitely after she showed up for a hearing, then left without entering the courthouse.

Source: People

She stayed 2 and a half hours according to TMZ and X17!

UPDATE: Brit's Out of the Depo!

The following italicized article is from www.x17online.com:

Having lasted much longer than her previous deposition, Britney Spears has just left the building, our photogs say.

She was inside for just over two-and-a-half hours!

Stay tuned for pix and video coming soon...

Source: X17

Britney Has Left the Building

The following italicized article is from www.tmz.com:

And she's off! Britney has now left the deposition -- after nearly two and a half hours of testimony. A new record! Britney's attorneys Sorrell Trope and Tara Scott tell TMZ Brit was "in good spirits" during the proceeding.

TMZ caught the weaved-out former star as she drove off -- followed by her usual pack of paparazzi. Although we've been told they're done for the day, this isn't the end for Britney. We've learned the depo could last at least two days -- so we're expecting her back!

Source: TMZ