About a month ago, Jamie Spears finally admitted the obvious, which is that he will need to eventually step down as Britney Spears’ conservator. That was basically Jamie’s August filing with the court – he didn’t give a timeline for stepping down, he just promised that he would step down at some point. That came after months of pressure from lawyers, mental health advocates and #FreeBritney activists. It came after Britney herself detailed her own hellish existence under her father’s thumb. For the record, Britney still isn’t saying “no conservatorship whatsoever.” She likes Jodi Montgomery, who is currently acting as the conservator to Britney-as-a-person (Jamie still controls the finances). I believe Britney knows she needs some kind of oversight and management. But she wants Jamie Spears out of her life and out of power over her mind and body. And now it’s starting to happen:
Britney Spears’ father filed a petition to end his daughter’s conservatorship Tuesday, a major victory for the singer after her father had held the reins of her estate for more than 13 years. James “Jamie” Spears’ petition to Los Angeles County Superior Court, seen by NBC News, says his daughter “is entitled to have this Court now seriously consider whether this conservatorship is no longer required.” The filing went on to say Britney Spears’ circumstances have changed “to such an extent that grounds for establishment of a conservatorship may no longer exist.”
His petition also argued that probate code doesn’t require Britney Spears to undergo a new psychological evaluation to terminate the guardianship, which she told the court she refuses to do.
“The conservatorship has helped Ms. Spears get through a major life crisis, rehabilitate and advance her career, and put her finances and her affairs in order. But recently, things have changed,” the filing said. “Ms. Spears is now outspoken in her frustration with the level of control imposed by a conservatorship, and has pleaded with this Court to ‘let her have her life back.'”
Her newly appointed attorney, Mathew Rosengart, filed a petition to remove Jamie Spears last month and asked the court to replace him with a professional accountant. Rosengart argued that Jamie Spears wasn’t acting in his daughter’s best interests and indicated that he may have misused her finances. The petition to end the conservatorship was a mammoth legal victory and “vindication,” Rosengart said in a statement Tuesday.
“It appears that 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 — our investigation will continue,” Rosengart said.
It wouldn’t be the Spears family without some f–kery, so I’m glad Mathew Rosengart’s statement was included to provide some added context for what Jamie is actually doing. That makes so much more sense. No one believes that Jamie would suddenly come to Jesus and realize that he’s behaved like a toxic, abusive POS for years. No, Jamie’s move is happening because of Rosengart’s sustained pressure and demands for a comprehensive audit of the financial aspect of the conservatorship. Rosengart isn’t merely trying to get Jamie off the conservatorship, or to get the conservatorship dissolved. Rosengart is trying to get justice for Britney. It would not surprise me at all if Rosengart’s aim is for criminal charges to be brought against Jamie Spears.
Photos courtesy of Britney’s Instagram.
This poor woman and her finances have been through the ringer. I am convinced Jamie bankrolled his ex wife and daughter( she was never a huge star and her hubby is a salesman) but she seems very comfy. If so Britney wishes to continue with her career she can make even more than ever before,hope she gets a good team.
I’d love to see Britney get a huge book deal and be rolling in the cash and Jamie Lynn broke and living in her Dad’s camper! What they did to Britney is so horrible that I can’t find the right words to use to describe it – her family and all involved in the conservatorship need to be criminally charged.
No way this would’ve happened if Rosengart didn’t have the (literal) receipts.
Exactly. It’s a crime she didn’t have her own lawyer since day one of the conservatorship.
I agree. It’s amazing what a lawyer with Britney’s best interests at heart can do, huh?
About damn time. God I hope she flourishes!
Same.
Not just Jamie Spears. Britney had a “lawyer” assigned by the court who had a number of conflict of interests in terms of his relationship with Jamie. None of which was properly assessed by the court. It needs to really be highlighted that the court was responsible for ensuring Britney’s legal rights were fully represented during this entire process. The fact that the moment that she is finally able to select her own lawyer, not the one “appointed by the court”, and he starts acting like a real lawyer, actually advocating on Britney’s behalf- responding to Jamie’s filings, demanding changes, challenging the financial expenditure decisions (all of which again the court approved without batting an eye for more than a decade and all of which is BRITNEY’S money)- the whole thing folds like a deck of cards. Just let’s just quick wrap this whole thing up.
This whole thing is rotten and horrific to the core. I understand that because Britney is a celebrity, a lot of people find this to be a topic of gossip and don’t really see this as an extraordinary constitutional violation that has played out publicly. Britney Spears has been denied almost all of her constitutional rights for 13 years- unable to freely associate and speak (first amendment), unable to own a gun (not that I think this matters, but it is the case), arguably 4th amendment violations (though this is maybe a stretch, depends on whether you see Jamie as an extension of the state as conservator), fifth amendment, she is not permitted to vote, not permitted to select her own attorney, not permitted to enter into contracts, denied bodily autonomy and the right to make her own medical decisions.
Her conservatorship is the most extreme form of conservatorship possible. It never, ever should have been authorized. Never. It is for people at the end of their life who are truly incapable of making decisions and for whom there is no possible recovery (dementia, alzheimers, etc).
The court has overseen and perpetrated a wholesale violation of Britney’s fundamental human rights. All of these people should be disbarred, be brought up on ethics complaints, and prosecuted where possible. All of them.
THIS ☝🏼!!! All this. The justice system actively participated in criminal and ethical violations against a American citizen so that a string of vultures could enrich themselves off her. It’s disgusting and I’m so glad her new lawyer is out to expose them all.
Also, the line in the post about Britney wanting a good conservator because she knows she needs oversight – it sounds like she knows she needs to be parented, properly, by someone who is mature and cares for her.
She’s been carrying this grotesque excuse for a family on her back since she was a kid doing Mickey mouse club. The child star paradox right? You’re working like an adult, supporting the actual adults who are supposed to care for you. You don’t get to be a kid, but since roles are reversed, you don’t get parented into being a capable adult either. You’re asked to handle things most adults can’t manage (fame, stress, etc) without the transition-to-adulthood preparation that most of us normals-working-in-cubicles get.
I hope she finally gets good people in her life.
My dad was a judge who oversaw the mental health court when I was growing up. There are so many different interventions that can be used and most of them involve annual plans for moving the person towards autonomy- that’s the goal whenever possible- varying degrees of oversight and sliding scales of decision making rights for the person. It’s meant as much as possible to be collaborative when the person is able to express their wishes on any issue. And their wishes should take priority, should be enabled, unless they are actively harmful. The idea is absolutely not to keep people in these types of deprived rights frameworks for life except in very extreme cases.
The conversion of Britney’s temporary conservatorship to a permanent one is where this really went off the rails. It changes everything in terms of the law and has as a presumption that it won’t be ended- legally I mean.
I really hope that her attorney files ethics complaints against all the legal professionals involved in this. And seeks their disbarment.
Britney can also hire people to help her manage her financial affairs or also her personal life for that matter. This is not that unusual for celebrities. It doesn’t need to be in a conservatorship. There’s lots of ways that she can have support from professionals without losing her autonomy. I hope she hires a kickass team and goes on a world tour (if she wants) and dances her heart out with her soon to be hubby : )
Yeah this could never have happened without the complicity of several parties; the judge (Reva Goetz), the sheriffs department who held her in the 5150, Samuel Ingham, the therapist, Britneys mother… this whole case is a hot potato now. I hope Rosengart is able to push through and get to the bottom of it all and get justice from all the guilty parties.
Wait, she couldn’t vote???
Nope. She would have been considered incompetent and removed from the voter rolls (if she was registered to begin with) and not permitted to vote. I think that the CA law changed recently and it’s possible that there is a way to get reinstated now in CA. But, the fact remains that she lost her right to vote when she was put in this form of conservatorship.
LadyE: PREACH IT!!! The abuse and abnegation of ALL of Britney’s rights over the last 13 years has been horrific. The entire California judicial and legal system as well as Britney’s family and ex-Kevin Federline are all complicit, culpable and implicated (in varying degrees) based on sheer human avarice.
Greed is very ugly. The fact is Britney was enslaved. She was working to support leeches: judges, lawyers and family members who had clear conflict of interests.
Yes, Britney had a well publicized breakdown and mental and emotional issues back in 2008. The legal system and Jamie made sure this was shrouded in secrecy to protect themselves NOT Britney. Andrew Wallet, Sam Ingram, et al have seen the writing on the wall and resigned from Britney’s conservatorship. Even her Mom Lynne & her sister Jamie Lyn recognized that the house of cards was collapsing and belated rushed to make public pronouncements of support. I’m sure Jamie’s own attorneys have been advising him that it’s game over because the new attorney is coming for him.
The clock is also ticking on Britney support Kevin Federline’s current wife, four other kids and his lavish lifestyle — that includes the home and cars that Britney bought.
The conservator ship has allowed everyone to siphon off and use Britney’s money except Britney.
I’m sure Britney will still need help, counseling and guidance. Don’t we all? God knows how much damage has been wrought from years of being medicated and possibly over medicated. OTOH, if Britney wants to spend all of her money, that’s her right. She’s been working her butt off supporting everyone else since she was a kid.
The real heroes of this sad saga are the members of the Free Britney Movement who were relentless in supporting her and keeping this case in front of the public. And Britney herself deserves kudos for passionately and lucidly speaking out for herself. I wish her all the best.
@ LadyE, please!! Shout it for the folks in the back!! What Jamie has done, and the countless other douchebags that held Britney imprisoned for 13 years should ALL be held accountable for their unethical behaviour, and that includes that lazy douche bag Kevin as well!! He’s supporting his lifestyle on Britney’s dime as well, hence why he threatened Jamie with an audit. Kevin is just as much a douchebag as the rest of everyone that has benefited from her conservatorship. Kevin should be stripped of his funds from Britney as well.
Jamie needs to be jailed for what he has done and I am certain that he has moved all of the money he stole from Britney in an oversees bank account.
Jamie is just a figurehead. He’s not that smart. While he has taken advantage of the situation, there are so many people behind the scenes who set this up and perpetuated it to make easy money.
Jamie is running scared. Love to see it.
Her dad’s full statement is gross and passive aggressive. Placing blame on everyone except himself and plainly saying if he is no longer required than Britney’s personal conservator is no longer required either. It is worded in such a way that he is begging for Britney to take a misstep so he can blame everyone who pushed for an end to the conservatorship- for the misstep. This man is so disgusting, I don’t fully believe he is a human being.
He’s only stepping down as he thinks he can avoid scrutiny as Rosengart is not going to be bullied by him – Daddy has met his match and is running away with his lil tail between his legs. However, this could be another game from Jamie as the court date is a few weeks away and he could file another petition making another u-turn. This could be a stunt to force Montgomery out – someone Brit apparently wants to continue to work with.
This. The only real way to get Jamie is sanctions within the conservatorship. If it ends the scrutiny does too along with legal threats of him being investigated.
Maybe Britney agreed to that but Jamie has been wilding in his motions to the court.
Even if he were tried in criminal court, he wouldn’t get any jail time for this. There is a much better chance of making him and all those who were involved in the scheme pay through civil action.
Also, he put a stipulation in this filing that he again wants payment before the conservatorship is ended. However, the judge could end the conservatorship without stipulating to this.
I don’t know if this is petty but where are all the people who insist Britney has some kind of grave mental illness? Please come and tell us why Jamie suddenly wants the conservatorship wrapped up? No mention of her grave diagnosis in the filing, too.
I’m sorry but it was really annoying to see people insist on that point when it was so obvious Jamie was there to take advantage.
Same situation with Kevin Federline asked for more money for child support. Jamie said he would fight it at first and almost immediately turned about and gave him more money. He wants to avoid being audited and anymore actually looking into what’s happened the last 13 years. It’s so obvious.
Britney said in her own words that she wants the conservatorship ended. She said it multiple times. Why do people keep saying that “Britney knows she needs oversight and management”. Britney was against having to do another psych evaluation in order for the conservatorship to end. She wants it to end without one. She said in her statement that even Jodi is taking it too far.
Reading some lawyers take on this as of yet to be filed paperwork, it sounds like Rosengart was trying to have her father replaced so that the investigation could begin. I think it changes how the investigation would go if there is no conservatorship in place, and that that’s why Rosengart hadn’t filed to terminate in the first place.
Yes, you are right, I’m pretty sure, though no personal insight into her lawyer’s thinking. Unfortunately, because so many expenditures were approved and the money spent, it’s going to be hard to get any restitution. The money is gone, basically. Jamie may end up owing Britney a lot of money, but any order will probably never be paid.
When someone takes on a conservatorship they have to have a bond issued in case they end up owing the conservative money. There is a $48 million bond against Jamie which will be used to reimburse Britney for at least some of the money that has been embezzled. Then the bond company will go after Jamie for reimbursement.
-Britney said in her own words that she wants the conservatorship ended. She said it multiple times. Why do people keep saying that “Britney knows she needs oversight and management”.-
This! All she has said when she spoke in court is that she knows she needs some therapy, (who wouldn’t after the 13 years she’s had) not that she wants or feels she needs a conservatorship.
Yeah agreed. She said she didn’t know she could petition for it to be ended, that it was abusive and wrong, that she was clearly capable, and that she wanted it to end without further psychiatric evaluations since she had already endured so many of them and they were abusivo too. Also, there are many ways that someone can help her that do not include a conservatorship! Many. She is not a legal ‘person’ under a conservatorship, she has no rights. She has been unpersoned. It was NEVER justified and was done fraudulently. She does not want it, she never wanted it, and she should never have been under it. They never even filed the required psychiatric evaluation paperwork!! Shameful, the whole thing. I think Jamie is now doing this because he’s hoping if she gets what she wants, she won’t come after him too hard. But it seems pretty obvious that he, Lou Taylor and Andrew Wallet, as well as various other people, have been doing extremely dodgy stuff with her estate for the last 13 years. If anyone is interested, I HIGHLY recommend the podcast Toxic. It is excellent and they speak to a lot of experts. They follow the money. It is dodgy as all hell.
Yeah. That was also my first thought. Jamie didn’t want an investigation so he peaced out. I’m happy for her anyway!
He hasn’t filed anything with the court. What he did was leak a ‘court filing’ to the media. He is still playing games. Because he is garbage.
It has been filed with the court. It always takes a while to show up. But he did release it to the media first which is how Rosengart found out about it.
I feel like this is to first set a trap for Britney, where any behavior she has outside the conservatorship is going to be used for grounds to make a new one, and to secondarily avoid an audit of just how much Jaime has stolen.
I wonder how much contact Britney has with Jamie these days. If they are talking, it’s possible that Jamie extracted a promise directly from Britney that she would drop the audit if he petitions to end the conservatorship. That should never be upheld in a court of law because you shouldn’t be able to use a conservatorship to extort someone into giving up a right that they otherwise hold (I assume since I am not familiar with this area of the law). But I could also see Britney just wanting to be done with Jamie and leaving it alone as soon as the financial conservatorship ends.
He apparently offered to end it for a couple of millions in a pay off.
Anything extracted from her now in this situation would have a prima facie defense of duress and undue influence. Nothing she agrees to now is likely to be binding. We have evidence from her of how coercive it has been.