Dad 'Blackmailing' Britney, Court Told

Four years after meltdown, Britney ready to regain her life

(NEWSER) - Four years after Britney Spears spiraled out of control, her father is happy with her progress and wants to end his control over her finances and life this year, perhaps as early as February, reports the Daily Mail . Jamie Spears was named conservator in 2008 , after the singer suffered from very high-profile meltdowns. But now, with her life back on track and engaged to be married for the third time , Britney's father thinks it is time she resumes control over her life. More»

Spears is too wacky to give deposition, parents argue

(NEWSER) - Remember crazy Britney Spears? She seems to have been tootling along rather well. But apparently she's still a tad mentally incapacitated. That's what her parents are arguing in court as they battle a lawsuit from booted manager Sam Lutfi, reports KSFM . He's suing Brit's mom, Lynne, for defamation for writing in her book that he isolated the pop star from her parents and was a major negative influence. He's seeking a deposition from Britney to prove that wasn't the case. Now Britney's parents are trying to convince a judge that she's not mentally capable of giving a deposition, reports Billboard . Lutfi is demanding a shrink exam to prove it. Stay tuned. More»

Plus, Kiefer and Brooke speak out over headbutt, more

(NEWSER) - Britney Spears’ legal team slapped Sam Lutfi with a 3-year restraining order—and now they’re going after his money, People reports, asking a court to order the erstwhile manager to reimburse Spears $123,142 in legal fees. They also want $72,292 from similarly restrained ex Adnan Ghalib. Elsewhere:

• Rihanna is getting revenge on Chris Brown via song, the Sun reports. A demo of Silly Boy was posted by Kanye West this weekend.

(NEWSER) - Adnan Ghalib, Britney Spears’ paparazzo ex, will see the inside of a courtroom on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and hit-and-run stemming from his alleged vehicular takedown of a process server, TMZ reports. A judge today ordered Ghalib to appear May 18 to set a trial date—and also approved a protective order against Ghalib on behalf of the process server. More»

Court grants Britney's dad's request to keep ex-manager away from his daughter

(NEWSER) - A Los Angeles court has ordered former manager Sam Lutfi and lawyer Jon Eardley to stay away from Britney Spears for the next three years, People reports. Britney's father—who filed the request—charges that the men have harassed his daughter and tried to undermine the agreement giving him control of her affairs. Lutfi has filed a defamation suit against the Spears family and plans to appeal the restraining order. More»