Stay Away! Britney Spears Wins Again

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

Britney Spears' ex-manager dropped his appeal of a judge's ruling that he must stay away from the singer until 2012, according to his appellate court attorney.

Osama "Sam" Lutfi instead will concentrate on his civil suit against the pop star and her parents, which is currently under a separate appeal, said attorney Joseph D. Schleimer.

In April 2009, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva K. Bobb directed Lutfi and attorney Jon Eardley to stay at least 100 yards from the pop star, her two young sons and her homes.

Bobb's ruling extended until April 28, 2012, a temporary order she issued against both men in January 2009. Bobb has since retired from the bench.

Lawyers for Lutfi filed papers shortly thereafter with the 2nd District Court of Appeal. They maintained during the hearings before Bobb that the three-year stay-away order was too harsh a measure and there was no evidence Lutfi had caused the pop star substantial emotional distress as alleged by lawyers for her father, Jamie Spears.

Jamie Spears and attorney Andrew Wallet share co-conservatorship powers over the 28-year-old singer's estate.

Spears' father maintained Lutfi and Eardley have tried to undermine the conservatorship established by Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz in early 2008 after the singer exhibited behavior that resulted in her hospitalization at UCLA Medical Center.

Lutfi sued Spears and her parents in February 2008, alleging he was defamed in passages of a book written by the singer's mother, Lynne Spears.

Lynne Spears is appealing a judge's ruling last August which denied her motion to have the case against her dismissed on grounds it infringed on her right to free speech.

In the appeal, Lynne Spears' lawyers maintain Lutfi is "libel-proof" because his reputation allegedly was already so low before her book was published that the contents could not have damaged his image further.

Source: NBC

Britney Spears -- The High Price of Sanity

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

Britney Spears blew through $1.32 MILLION on lawyers in a recent 7-month span -- but the result was priceless.

The money has been used to pay off the lawyers who represented Britney's conservatorship -- the group of people who have essentially restored Britney.

The court order makes it clear: More fees are on the way ... and Britney's conservators need to stash a few bucks away to prepare.

BTW, it cost Britney roughly $280,000 in lawyer's fees to keep Adnan Ghalib, Sam Lutfi and Jon Eardley away from her.

Source: TMZ

Best money ever spend!

Britney Peeper Guilty of Peekaboo-boo

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

Miranda Tozier-Robbins should've just bought a ticket for the Circus.

The woman who was arrested in April outside Britney Spears' Calabasas home after security guards caught her peering into a ground-floor window was cleared of trespassing Thursday but found guilty of misdemeanor peeking.

For real! We didn't know that existed, either!

Tozier-Robbins told E! News at the time that there was "no obsession with Britney"; rather, she had been practicing documentary filmmaking, paparazzi-style (which, to her apparently, meant in an invasive and illegal manner).

For peeking, the 26-year-old has been sentenced to three years' probation, fined $100 plus penalties and ordered to continuing staying at least 100 yards away from Spears, her kids and her residence, as per the terms of a previous restraining order. Tozier-Robbins must also perform 240 hours of community service.

We're thinking window washing might be in order.

Source: E! Online

BREAKING NEWS: Britney Spears To Collect Legal Fees from Former Boyfriend Adnan Ghalib

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

With hundreds of thousands of dollars going out of her checking account every month for legal fees, Britney Spears has just caught a small financial break.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8 ordered Ghalib to pay the Conservatorship of Britney Jean Spears $11,500. to cover legal fees and costs it incurred in obtaining a restraining order against the photographer.

Ghalib may be counting himself as lucky, however. The Conservatorship had requested the Court award it over $70,000!

The same matters regarding Sam Lutfi and Jon Eardley are still pending.

Source: Radar Online

Papa Spears -- If You Hurt Britney, I Hurt You

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

Britney Spears' dad claims allegations that he battered Sam Lutfi last year are completely bogus -- because Jamie Spears believes he had a legal right to beat his ass if he wanted to ... but Jamie is coy about whether he actually did it.

In legal papers filed today, Jamie is very careful to not admit he punched Lutfi in the chest at Brit's house last year -- as Lutfi suggested in a recent lawsuit. However, Jamie says the law allows him to open a can of whoop ass if the situation calls for it -- and according to the docs, the Lutfi situation called for it.

Jamie claims "he was provoked" by Lutfi and was "privileged to use force in and about the matter complained."

He adds, "Any necessary force may be used to protect from wrongful injury the person or property of oneself, or a wife, husband, child, parent or other relative or member of one's family."

Source: TMZ

Go Jamie! Go Jamie! Go Jamie!

Britney's Jury of Her Peers -- Ding Dang

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

The lawyer who tried to torpedo the Britney Spears conservatorship has just filed legal papers, contesting the restraining order issued against him and asking for a new trial ... this time by jury.

Jon Eardley, along with Sam Lutfi and Adnan Ghalib, are bound by restraining orders after the conservators convinced a judge they were harassing Britney and her family.

Now Eardley says a jury should have made that decision and wants a new trial.

We're guessin' anyone who doesn't drink Fanta is out of the jury box.

Source: TMZ

Sam Lutfi May Have to Foot Britney's Legal Bill

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

Sam Lutfi faced off against Britney Spears's legal team – and lost, slapped with a three-year restraining order last month.

His wallet may be taking a hit next.

Lawyers for the singer asked a Los Angeles court last Friday to order Lutfi, who once was her manager, to pay $123,142 to cover Spears's legal fees for the courtroom battle over the restraining order.

In addition, her lawyers are seeking $129,922 from Jon Eardley, an attorney who has challenged Jamie Spears's control over his daughter, and $72,292 from her ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib. Both Eardley and Ghalib were also ordered to stay away from the pop star.

A judge has yet to sign off on the request.

Source: People

Lawsuit against Britney Spear's ex-manager postponed

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

A lawsuit by Britney Spears' ex-manager against the pop star and her parents will not go to trial until next year, a judge ruled today.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Zaven V. Sinanian scheduled the trial of Osama "Sam" Lutfi's lawsuit for March 8, 2010. Attorneys for Jamie Spears, the singer's father, said his client is considering bringing a countersuit, while a lawyer for Lynne Spears, the entertainer's mother, said he may seek to dismiss the defamation claim against her on grounds it interferes with her free- speech rights.

However, attorneys on all sides also told the judge they will see if the case can be resolved with the help of a private mediator.

Lutfi's lawsuit alleges the pop star's mother defamed him, that her father assaulted him and that the singer owes him money for management fees.

Lutfi's court papers allege that Jamie Spears punched him in the chest at the singer's home in January 2008.

In the defamation claim, Lutfi's court papers cite passages in Lynne Spears' book, "Through the Storm, A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World," which he said contain false information, including a claim that Lutfi admitted he threw away Britney's phone chargers and disabled her house phones.

The suit was filed in February, four days after Spears was granted a temporary restraining order against Lutfi, her 36-year-old former boyfriend Adnan Ghalib and attorney Jon Eardley, forbidding all three from having contact with her, her parents and her two young sons.

The order was later extended until 2012 against Ghalib first, then later until the same year against the other two men as well.

Source: Contracosta Times

Sam Lutfi Won't Go Down Without a Fight

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

We've just learned Sam Lutfi has officially filed an appeal against the permanent restraining order that was just granted ordering him to stay clear of Britney Spears.

Lutfi lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told us "Never before in the history of the world has a restraining order been granted as a result of someone answering someone else's cries for help."

Freedman added, "The evidence showed it was Britney Spears reaching out to Mr. Lutfi and all he did was help her get a lawyer."

Story developing...

Source: TMZ

Sam Lutfi Ordered to Stay Away from Britney for Three Years

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

It's official: Sam Lutfi is a threat to Britney Spears.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva Bobb issued a three-year restraining order against the singer's former manager on Tuesday.

Jon Eardley, a lawyer who has repeatedly challenged the validity of Jamie Spears's legal control over his daughter, was also slapped with a restraining order for three years.

Both men must stay at least 100 yards away from Britney, her two sons, and her family members' homes, and must not harass Britney and her children, or contact them through phone, mail and email. It also prohibits them from "acting on Ms. Spears's behalf or purporting to act on her behalf." The orders, however, do not specifically protect Jamie and Britney's mother Lynne Spears, which Jamie had sought.

The singer's father, who initially filed the request on Jan. 30, alleged that both men have harassed his daughter, adding Lutfi arranged the smuggling of a cell phone to the pop star at a hotel.

Lutfi Will Appeal

Bryan Freedman, Lutfi's attorney tells PEOPLE: "We absolutely will appeal this ruling. Never before in history has a restraining order been issued against someone who answered another person's cries for help."

The order followed several hearings in which Spears's father, her hairstylist, bodyguard, among others, testified that the singer was in fear of Lutfi. In his defense, Lutfi's younger sister Christina testified that it was Britney who hatched the cell phone scheme because she allegedly wanted Lutfi's help to end her father's control.

Last week, Samuel Ingham, a court-appointed lawyer for the pop star, told the judge that "my client's situation has improved dramatically over the last fourteen months. [The orders against Lutfi] is in my client's best interest ... she has suffered emotional distress."

Meanwhile, Lutfi's lawsuit against the Spears family for defamation and battery is still pending.

Source: People

Britney to Sam Lutfi: It Was Nice Knowing You...

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

Britney Spears' conservatorship was just granted a permanent restraining order on Brit's behalf against Sam Lutfi and a guy who once claimed to be Britney's attorney.

The restraining order lasts until April 28, 2012.

Britney and both her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, are protected under the order. Lutfi and Jon Eardley are not allowed to go within 100 yards of Brit's home, job or workplace.

Sam and Jon also have to stay away from K-Fed's place and any of Britney's family members' homes.

The conservators filed for the restraining order because they said Lutfi and Jon were trying to torpedo the conservatorship by contacting Britney behind their backs.

Source: TMZ

Sam Lutfi Is Screwed In 3..2..

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

Judge Aviva Bobb heard closing arguments to decide if the temporary restraining order against Britney Spear's former BFF/svengali Sam Lutfi and her wannabe lawyer Jon Eardley should be made permanent.

Bobb told the open court that she will render her verdict by the end of the day. The bottom line argument, according to Lutfi's lawyer Bryan Freedman is that Britney, herself "did not suffer substantial emotional damage" as a result of Lutfi's phone attempts to contact her.

Freedman told OK! exclusively: "I will most definitely appeal any permanent order. Britney did not testify. No doctor or medical professional testified that she suffered enough to warrant a restraining order"

Britney's lawyer Joel Boxer countered: "There's much truth to the old adage that silence speaks volumes," meaning that neither Lutfi nor Eardley bothered to show up in court to testify in their defense.

Last week in court Boxer tried to cement the idea that Lutfi and Eardley are "predators who patently threatened and extorted her through emails."

Despite signing an agreement last July to stay away from the Britster, Lutfi testified that he slipped her a cell phone via his sister, and that she then texted Britney 45 times.

Another court date in May is scheduled to decide who should pay whose lawyer fees for this whole thing.

Stay tuned for judge Bobb's final decision.

Source: OK Magazine

Sam Lutfi -- Cowardly, Lyin'

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

During final arguments in today's hearing where Britney Spears' people are trying to get a permanent restraining order against Sam Lutfi and Jon Eardley -- Brit's lawyer called both guys "cowards" for not showing up for cross-examination.

All arguments have been heard and a decision will be made shortly.

Stay tuned...

Source: TMZ

Sam Lutfi Tones Down Attack on Britney Spears

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

Oops…he did it again.

Britney Spears' former manager/sidekick Osama "Sam" Lutfi has filed an amended lawsuit against the pop princess, toning down the rhetoric from his original complaint but still making the same basic accusations: chief among them that mother Lynne Spears slandered him; father Jamie Spears assaulted him; and that the "Toxic" singer still owes him money for services rendered.

Acting on behaf of his daughter's conservatorship, Jamie Spears obtained a temporary restraining order against Lutfi back in January to keep him out of her life.

On Feb. 3, Lutfi fired back with a lawsuit that included salacious allegations about her parents leeching off Britney.

That led to Team Spears to file a petition asking the court to toss out the first seven pages of Lutfi's complaint, claiming the blistering charges were really a "calculated attempt to exploit the court system" to make public assertions that "no factual or legal moorings."

Among the finer details in dispute: "every aspect of [Britney's] life and more importantly, her fortune, has been controlled by her parents" and that the parents were losing control of their daughter, which "posed a serious threat to Jamie and Lynne" and their supposedly lavish lifestyles.

Such language was excised from the updated filing last Thursday, according to Lutfi lawyer Bryan Freedman, to "clarify" his client's accusations against the popster.

"We think the amended complaint sets forth our claim in a more clear fashion," Freedman tells E! News. "There were certain allegations that we wanted to clean up. "We felt [the language] provided some real background but we removed it...as far as the legal claims we're seeking, it was irrelevant."

Jamie Spears' attorney, Joel Boxer, could not be reached for comment.

While all this plays out, a judge could decide as soon as tomorrow to make permanent the restraining order against Lutfi and attorney John Eardley—ruling which Freedman said he will appeal should they come out on the wrong side.

Freedman also expressed a desire to bring Spears in from her Circus tour to explain why, if Lutfi was such a nuisance, she didn't file her own restraining order against Lutfi before her father took control of her affairs.

"I think if she testified we'd at least understand the truth whether she suffered substantial emotinal distress from Sam or whether she was reaching out and Sam helped her," the attorney added.

The Spears estate recently obtained a permanent restraining order against Britney former paparazzo paramour Adnan Ghalib, which will remain in place for three years.

Source: E! Online

Former Attorney For Jamie Spears Testifies Britney Wanted Ex-Manager Jailed

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

Britney Spears asked for her former manager, Osama “Sam” Lutfi, to be jailed, a former attorney for the pop star’s father said in a Los Angeles courtroom earlier today.

Jamie Spears has been seeking a permanent restraining order for his daughter against Lutfi, and the hearing in Los Angeles, which saw testimony from Jamie’s former attorney, Blair Berk, was at the request of his current counsel.

According to City News Service, Berk recounted the pop star’s request regarding Lutfi to the court.

“She repeatedly asked if I could get him arrested for what he’d done to her and get the court to order him to stay away from her,” Berk said, according to CNS.

Berk also reportedly claimed Lutfi threatened to release embarrassing information about the pop star and her dad if Berk did not stop such information being released about him.

Additionally, Berk spoke about Britney Spears’ lack of relationship with attorney Jon Eardley, who once challenged the conservatorship Britney is currently under. Berk testified that the pop star previously told her she did not know Eardley and she did not want him as her lawyer.

Lutfi’s lawyers claim there is no evidence that proves he caused Britney Spears emotional distress, according to CNS. They are fighting the restraining order.

Source: Access Hollywood

Lutfi Sis -- I Set Up Brit and Sam's Secret Phone

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

Sam Lutfi's sister (who knew he had one) testified in court today that she played middle man to help Britney Spears stay in touch with Sam -- and her version of the story sounds like a James Bond movie.

During a hearing in L.A. Superior Court regarding the temporary restraining order (TRO) against Sam, Christina Lutfi said Britney called her in mid-January. According to Christina, Britney said she wanted Sam to get her a new lawyer, and a pre-paid cell phone.

Presumably, that would allow Brit to circumvent the TRO and talk to Sam without her dad Jamie's knowledge.

Now imagine this scene: Christina says she met Brit on January 16 in the sauna at a posh Beverly Hills hotel to deliver the cell phone. She claims the drop went down while Brit's mom and bodyguards were nearby in the hotel.

Lutfi also testified that Britney said she "felt like a prisoner," was "afraid of her father" and that he was threatening to take away her kids.

Despite the testimony, the judge refused to lift the TRO. The hearing was continued to April 21 when closing arguments will be heard.

Source: TMZ

Adnan Must Stay Clear of Britney ... For Years

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

Britney Spears got a break today -- whether she knows it or not. A judge just ordered Adnan Ghalib to stay completely clear of Brit for three years.

You'll recall Brit's conservators already got a temporary restraining order prohibiting Adnan from having contact with the famous conservatee, after Adnan allegedly tried torpedoing the conservatorship.

Adnan was a no show for today's hearing, so the judge gave the green light for a permanent injunction.

Source: TMZ

*Does a happy dance*

Britney's Ex Friend Throws Ex BF Under Bus

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

We just obtained the declaration Sam Lutfi filed with the court, in which he claims he had no direct contact with Britney Spears -- but he says Adnan Ghalib did!

Sam, who has been ordered to stay completely clear of Britney with no contact, claims "I did not initiate any direct communication with Britney Spears. Although I did receive text messages from her, all responses to those messages were conveyed to Britney through others, including ... Adnan Ghalib.

"Sam does say he has "exchanged text messages with Ms. Spears."

Lutfi also claims he never threatened any act of violence against Britney or her family.

But Brit's head of security filed his own declaration basically saying Sam is a liar and that he witnessed him try "to contact Ms. Spears by sending text messages" to her hairdresser.

We also got a transcript of the text messages Sam allegedly got from someone claiming that Jamie Spears was going to make "some horrible accusations regarding you."

Source: TMZ

Britney Spears's Hairstylist Testifies Against Sam Lutfi

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

Britney Spears's hairstylist testified in a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday that the singer's ex-manager, Sam Lutfi, harassed her with calls and text messages over a period of three weeks last December.

"Someone kept calling me from a private number ... he said his name was Sam," Roberta Romero stated Wednesday. "He wanted information about Britney He said he was on her side. I told him, 'Leave me alone, stop calling me.' "

Lutfi allegedly sent Romero a series of 11 texts within a four day period, saying things like, "Please relay the truth to her. I did not do this to her," apparently referring to Jamie Spears's indefinite control over the singer's life. Lutfi also allegedly texted Romero: "I've done everything I can to free her from this. Very close to getting her free now." On another occasion he allegedly wrote: "I went to court to free her." Romero says she repeatedly told Lutfi to leave her alone via text.

Restraining Order Extended

The hearing was held to determine whether to uphold a restraining order, filed by Britney's father, against Lutfi and ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib. After three hours of proceedings, the restraining orders were extended to March 18, with the case to resume April 1 to hear more witnesses.

Romero testified about an evening on Dec. 27 when she and Britney went to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Lutfi had been sending text messages to Romero that evening, and later, the two women texted back, "Leave me the [expletive] alone."

At some point that evening, Lutfi texted Romero, "Can you wish her a Merry Christmas for me?" At 2 a.m., the women sought help from the singer's bodyguard, Itamar Gelbman, who also testified in court.

The Bodyguard Steps In

"[Britney] complained Sam was texting her, and that she's scared," Gelbman said in court. "She asked for more patrols [around the house]. She wanted me to do more, to make sure everything was locked. She couldn't fall asleep because of [Sam's texts to Romero]. She told me to make him stop." Gelbman says he immediately called Lutfi and told him to leave the women alone.

Lawyers for Jamie Spears said Lutfi had been subpoenaed Tuesday night for cross-examination in court. The process server taped a notice to appear on his car windshield, they said, but Lutfi failed to show up.

His attorney, Bryan Freedman, claimed that Lutfi wasn't properly served, and has denied that his client has been harassing the singer.

Source: People

Brit's Bodyguard: She's So Scared That She Can't Sleep!

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

After the court heard testimony on Monday from Britney Spears' father Jamie Spears, the hearing to decide whether or not to extend the restraining order against Sam Lutfi continued today with revealing testimony from her hairdresser and bodyguard.

According to Roberta Romero, who has been working on the pop superstar's hair for about a year now, sometime in late December, Sam got a hold of her cell phone number and sent her a total of 11 texts between Dec. 24 and Dec. 28.

Per Roberta's testimony, Sam first began contacting her in early December, when he attempted to call her several times from a blocked phone. Though he refused at first to identify himself, she was able to get him to admit that it was indeed Sam. He allegedly tried to have Roberta get a message to Britney that he was "trying to help her," but she refused, telling him that she believed him to be a bad influence on Brit.

The texting barrage began on Dec. 24 when Sam contacted Roberta with asking to "please wish her a Merry Christmas for me."

And then on Dec. 27, he began texted Roberta again with pleas to relay "the truth" to Britney.

"She can look at the court docs online," read one text. "I didn't do any of this to her."

Another text made the claim that Britney's hospitalization in February 2008 was all part of a conspiracy for her family to gain control over her.

"Her family put her into the hospital just to set up the conservatorship," read the text. "I've done everything I can to free her.... I'm very close to getting her free now."

Roberta testified that when Brit discovered the texts late in the evening on Dec. 27, she asked Roberta to text him back, asking him to stop trying to reach her. When that didn't stop, the pair went to speak to Britney's head of security, Itamar Gelbman, who also testified today.

After being made aware of the texts, Gelbman contacted Sam directly by phone and told him that if the attempts to contact Britney did not stop, he would notify the police.

"She was scared... She can't fall asleep," Gelbman testified, saying that Britney asked him to increase the security patrols around her house.

It was also revealed in court today that Gelbman and his team keep a binder of people who they feel are threats to the singer, and that both Sam and Brit's ex-boyfriend, Adnan Ghalib are in this binder.

Apparently the court thinks he's enough of a threat to Britney to merit extending the restraining order until March 18, at which point it will likely be extended once more until at least the scheduled trial date of April 1.

Source: OK Magazine