Britney Spears' Father Retains Conservatorship in Court
In the recent New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears, filmmakers documented decades-long abuse the singer has endured at the hands of the media, other celebrities, and her family, namely her father Jamie who has been her legal conservator since 2008. For many fans, this wasn't news. The #FreeBritney movement has been a growing social media campaign dedicated to creating awareness for Spears' plight and ongoing legal battle to win back control of her own financial and legal decisions. Unfortunately, despite early reports, yesterday's courtroom hearing did not change Jamie's legal holding's over his daughter's estate.
In the hearing, Britney's lawyer Samuel Ingham III argued with Jamie's attorney Vivian Lee Thoreen about the overall language of Ingham's filed petition. According to Thoreen, the document did not request to "modify, reduce, or eliminate" Jamie's control over her estate.
Ingham's conceded that he could have structured the language in a way that requested conservatorship of Bessemer Trust, Britney's other co-conversator, but did not because he believes both Jamie and Bessemer Trust should be able to divide their responsibilities over Britney's estate alone. He explained, "It is, to me, reasonable that the two conservators should be able to figure out together without adding third parties to the mix how the investments are going to be handled,” Ingham said in the hearing."
Thoreen continued to remind the court that Britney, herself, requested her father as her sole conservator. However, Ingham noted that it's "no secret" that the "Toxic" singer "does not want her father as co-conservator." However, he also explained that Jamie's removal process was a separate matter and that the court has already "declined to remove him on a speaking motion basis."
Ingham asserted his belief that Jamie and Bessemer Trust should be able to "come up with a timetable to come up with an investment plan and proposed budget for my client." He continued, “Mr. Spears should not retain the ability to pull the plug and hand the investments to somebody else. He agreed to work with Bessemer and I think that they should be able to work together to figure this out.”
Future court dates have been set for March 17 and April 27.
