February 18, 2008

Britney Spears Confined To Her Home?

By MTV.com

As Britney Spears' father extended control over her affairs in Los Angeles on Thursday, a New York attorney attempted to undo them by taking the conservatorship to federal court.

Claiming he represents the singer - despite a judge already deciding she's unable to retain counsel of her own just yet - attorney Jon Eardley filed a claim that the singer's conservatorship deprives her of her civil liberties, since she's been denied the right to meet freely with whom she chooses (as her father has the power to restrict visitors); make and receive phone calls (since a restraining order prevents manager Sam Lutfi from contacting her); drive a car (since her father hired security to do that for her); and gain access to money or credit cards (since her finances are being handled by her trust).

"She is being confined ... to the private person of her own home," the suit reads.

Eardley is represented by Lutfi's publicist, Michael Sands, who claims that the motion moves jurisdiction from Los Angeles Superior Court to the U.S. District Court, and voids the conservatorship: "Britney Spears has no conservatorship!" he said in a press release.

However, the Los Angeles Superior Court responded, "This is an issue that will have to be litigated by the parties."