Crime & Justice

Britney Spears’ father files to end pop star’s conservatorship

Washington DC, Sep 7 (EFE).- Britney Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, asked a court Tuesday to terminate his daughter’s conservatorship, a controversial legal arrangement by which he has controlled her finances and life for 13 years.

The pop star’s attorney called the development as a “massive victory” for the singer.

On Aug. 12, Jamie Spears announced his intention to step down from his role as his daughter’s legal guardian but until now had planned to hand over the role to another person, which would not annul the conservatorship, but would remove the singer’s family from involvement.

“As Mr. Spears has said again and again, all he wants is what is best for his daughter. If Ms. Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr. Spears believes that she should get that chance,” said the father’s attorney, Vivian Lee Thoreen.

In a new document filed Tuesday in the Los Angeles Superior Court, which is handling the case, Thoreen argued that Britney Spears’ circumstances have changed “to such an extent that grounds for establishment of a conservatorship may no longer exist.”

In June, the pop star spoke out against what she described as an “abusive” conservatorship that has given her father control over her life since 2008, and asked for it to end.

Conservatorship is an arrangement usually reserved for people with cognitive impairment.

During a 20-minute address to court via videolink, Spears spoke of having little control over her life during these 13 years, in which she has not had the freedom to speak to the press, give interviews, marry or start a family with her boyfriend.

Although the artist asked the court to remove her father as legal guardian, so far she has not formally requested the end of the guardianship, which since 2019 has been divided into two.

While Jamie Spears has been in control of the singer’s finances, attorney Jodi Montgomery serves as Britney Spears’ personal conservator.

The judge overseeing the case, Brenda Penny, will now have to decide whether to accept the new petition by Jamie Spears and has scheduled the next hearing for Sep. 29.

Britney Spears’ attorney, Mathew Rosengart, described the news as a “massive victory” for the artist, but warned that they will continue to explore options to sue her father for his allegedly negligent handling of the singer’s finances.

“It appears Mr. Spears believes he can try to avoid accountability and justice, including sitting for a sworn deposition and answering other discovery under oath, but as we assess his filing — which was inappropriately sent to the media before it was served on counsel — we will also continue to explore all options,” Rosengart, who has represented the singer since July, said in a statement.

The singer’s father became her legal guardian in 2008 when she was hospitalized for psychiatric treatment.

Although the arrangement was supposed to be temporary, it has continued for 13 years during which the artist has released new albums and starred in one of the most successful shows in Las Vegas between 2013 and 2017, sometimes against her will.

The legal case between the singer and her father has rallied support for her on social media through the #FreeBritney movement, which gained momentum this year after the premiere of the documentary “Framing Britney Spears.”

It follows the rise, fall and comeback of the artist, including the conservatorship and constant public scrutiny she was subjected to. EFE

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