Britney Spears has lost her request to have her father taken out of her conservatorship by a judge. At least, for now.
The Los Angeles Superior Court filed new court documents Wednesday showing that Spears’ attorney Samuel Ingham III had denied her request to remove Jamie Spears as her sole conservator. These documents do not directly respond to Spears’ explosive testimony at last week’s hearing. The judge has refused to grant her request by Samuel Ingham III to remove Jamie Spears, her father, as sole conservator.
According to court documents filed Wednesday, “The conservator’s request for James P. Spears to be suspended immediately following the appointment of Bessemer Trust Company of California sole conservator of the estate is denied without prejudice.”
Although the new court filings represent another setback for Spears, the judge’s denial of the request is not new. Samuel Ingham III had filed a request to remove Spears’ father in November 2020. He stated that his client was “afraid” of her father and would not perform again if her father kept control of her career. Judge Brenda Penny refused to remove her father from conservatorship. However, she did not rule out any future petitions for his suspension or removal. The judge also appointed Bessemer Trust, a financial company, as co-conservator.
Today’s paperwork was only intended to allow the judge to approve Bessemer Trust co-conservator. It also reiterates his decision not to remove the elder Spears’ conservatorship.
It’s important to note that Judge Penny signed the document on June 30, after Penny’s explosive testimony in which she said that her conservatorship was abusive.
Spears’ 24-minute testimony was given last week. It marked her first public appearance before the court during her 13-year conservatorship. Spears stated that her father enjoys controlling her life and she believes that her conservators, which include her father, should be imprisoned. She also said she would sue her family.
The case of Spears has attracted a lot of attention around the world, with the pressure growing to support her and remove her father from conservatorship.
According to Wednesday’s court filing, Spears was found “substantially incapable” of managing his or her finances or resisting fraud or undue influence by the court.
Since 2008, Spears’ father was her co-conservator. This happened after the singer experienced a public breakdown. After Andrew Wallet, attorney, resigned as co-conservatorship, he became the sole conservator. He temporarily relinquished his powers in September 2019 and Jodi Monty became her conservator. She is responsible for Spears’ personal and medical well-being. Spears’ father is still the sole conservator of her estate. He manages all her finances and also makes a substantial sum. This is despite Spears continuing to perform at her Las Vegas home while she was under restrictive conservatorship.
Variety reported earlier today that Spears’ father attorney filed paperwork on his behalf . This was pointing fingers at Montgomery, with the father’s perspective being he loves his daughter, has done nothing wrong, and is very concerned.
“Mr. His attorney stated in the docs that Mr. Spears was concerned about the care and management of his daughter. According to her statements to court, Mr. Spears is worried that Jodi Montgomery’s petition to appoint her was not in her best interests. On June 23, Ms. Spears stated to the court that she opposes a conservatorship. She also revealed ongoing disputes with Ms. Montgomery over her personal care and medical treatment.
Montgomery strongly denied the assertion of elder Spears. Her attorney fought back and released a statement stating that Montgomery is a “tireless advocate” for Britney and her well-being.
Despite her father’s view and the judge’s rulings, the pop star made it clear that she wanted her father out and wants to end her conservatorship without further evaluation.
Spears said that she cried for over an hour on the phone and that her father loved it all. He loved the power he had over me, and the ability to control his daughter 100,000%. It was his favorite thing.”
Spears told the judge, “I just want to have my life back.” It’s been thirteen years. It’s enough. It has been a while since I have owned my money. It’s my desire and my dream that all this should be over without any testing.”