Britney’s Conservatorship Made Permanent
Britney Spears’ conservatorship with her dad Jamie, which was due to expire December 31, was made permanent by a Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner today. The singer made no objection to the arrangement, which has had her father overseeing her affairs since February 1. The arrangement could still be rescinded in the future and another status hearing will take place December 22. Britney (seen here with her dad a few days ago) seems to be making progress in getting her life together and we wish her luck.
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October 28th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Linda. And the source of this news was…. the AP?
We wish her fair treatment.
Is it true that Wright’s representatives were in court today? Why would they be present at a “status hearing?”
This wasn’t a Chapter 11 hearing. What was Wright doing there, if he or his attorneys were?
October 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
that is, I meant. I didn’t mean that he was there, just his attorneys and if they were there.
How could they get on the docket at a “status hearing?”
October 28th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I believe Wright’s rep’s were in court concerning a contract dispute. Different issue.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I don’t have a source for that yet. Just heard it through the grapevine.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Thx Steel. I know it’s early but are you suggesting they just “happened to be in court today?” or that it was already on the docket and X, the AP, TMZ, JFX and other news sources didn’t know or knew and didn’t broadcast it?
I’ll take your 2 cents if you have it to offer.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Maybe Wright is just a distraction…. star showers and all of that.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Wright’s been after unpaid fees for quite a while now. I remember reading about this almost a year ago…
October 28th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A Los Angeles Judge today put off further discussion about when Britney Spears might resume her life, free of a court-ordered conservatorship.
The decision came as a result of a wrinkle that appeared in the case on Tuesday, revealing how Spears’ complex legal matters remain unresolved when she is not allowed to testify about them.
The latest development in the singer’s conservatorship saga came as a result of a business relationship between Spears and entertainment executive Johnny Wright. Attorneys for Wright were in court based on an ongoing Florida lawsuit with her former manager Wright regarding what appears to be a contract dispute.
In order for the suit to go forward, they wanted Spears to sit for a deposition.
Wright’s lead attorney, arguing via speakerphone, said “We have seen appearances where she seems to be doing so good.”
But Spears’ father Jamie, who is one of the executors of her estate, filed an ex-parte motion stating Britney is not ready to undergo a deposition.
Judge Reva Goetz ruled in favor of a protective order for Spears, saying, “The capacity issue remains open.”
A new date of February 2, 2009 has been set to re-visit the deposition. Britney remains under the conservatorship until at least the end of this year.
http://www.accesshollywood.com/judge-postpones-decision-on-britney-spears-conservatorship_article_11904
October 28th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
She can’t sit for a deposition, but she can do live TV performances and is planning a world tour. That’s…ummm…weird.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I saw that one too Steel. hm… who should we trust? Accesshollywood seems more logical, than some of the others.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Sorry for copying and pasting that whole article…Sometimes it’s easier to copy and paste the legal stuff than it is to try to describe it.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I trust that AccessHollywood got the story right…
I just think that the Spears Camp is sending mixed messages, is all.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I am glad that you did Steel.
I am bewildered.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
x17 has interesting information up as to California law.
Per x17 Britney retains the rights to:
In general, conservatees keep the right to:
* Control their own salary
* Make or change their will
* Get married
* Get mail
* Have a lawyer
* Ask a judge to change conservators
* Ask a judge to end the conservatorship
* Vote, unless a judge says they’re not able to
* Control personal spending money if a judge says they can have an allowance
* Make their own health-care decisions, unless a judge gives that right to a conservator
October 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Thanks X17. And Steel, I too apologize for copying and pasting but here ’tis
When the court chooses you as the conservator of a person, this means you:
* Arrange for the conservatee’s care and protection; decide where the conservatee will live; and are in charge of: health care, food, clothes, personal care, housekeeping, transportation, and recreation.
* Figure out what the conservatee needs: You must figure out what the conservatee needs and how to meet those needs.
* Decide where the conservatee will live.
* You must tell the court every time the conservatee’s address changes.
* You can’t move the conservatee out of state.
* You can’t put the conservatee in a mental health treatment facility.
* You are responsible for making sure that the conservatee’s health-care needs are taken care of.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
credit x17 if that wasn’t clear.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Mark are you going to pipe in?
October 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Thanks to BH (Jordan) E! has a “reasonable” story line…
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b66023_britney_agrees_permanent_conservatorship.html
October 29th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Off the phone and trying to understand.
If a “manager” has signed contracts and evidence of nonpayment, then why does he need to depose the talent that was under contract.
What could a deposition possibly serve? Proof of an oral contract?
And why today? Why an emergency ex-parte on the part of Jamie Spears?
Am I understanding the case correctly?
And who are the “undue influences”… folk like Johnny Wright? And what does Johnny Wright think about being designated and “undue influence” in a court of LA law?
Also, I thought his party filed originally in Orlando …
October 29th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Using the bishops to oust a knight, good move but too safe. Or is it the only move available. The Queen was wide open for the taking but serious consequence is transparent. ‘Look Ma, No Hands’ was like being there. Very bold.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Thank you. Mark.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:27 am
knights are tricky .. a good player would have seen the bishops coming.
Perhaps it was the best analogy though.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:39 am
I hear you and thank you Mark. I had to think a little .. but that’s what I enjoy about you.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:08 am
Something strange about the queen.
Move the ponds.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Do I need to know chess to understand what’s going on? I don’t know how to play chess dammit.
I really don’t understand how Britney can make music, perform, have photoshoots, give interviews, etc., and still need a conservator. It’s all confusing.
October 29th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Some things ya can do, some ya can’t!
Not wont but can not.
Could be saying, “damn good bricklayer, why so lousy at the cooking? Must be intentional?”
No sense there.
I can post a letter but not buy the stamp.
Anxiety kicks in and i’m b*ggered for a week.
Quote the sisty ugler here, “deal with what is, not what should be.”
What ya reckon she’s right on the knocker there?
October 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I knew if I stayed quiet long enough that MT would explain it to us. Nice job Mark.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Amethyst Mine Says:
October 29th, 2008 at 12:04 am
What could a deposition possibly serve? Proof of an oral contract?
And why today? Why an emergency ex-parte on the part of Jamie Spears?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Deposition…To ask why the payments had stopped? At that point (when payments to Wright ceased) I believe Brit may have already fired her entire team and wasn’t speaking with Jive. Grossman and Lutfi were running the show, and perhaps Wright’s lawyers want to question Brit as to why that was allowed?
Jamie was probably right to file an emergency injunction…As Wolken points out, Brit’s good at some things, but not others. She’s probably not the best person to talk to when it comes to dealing with her own finances. She’s great at entertaining, but when it comes to her own contracts, money and legal matters she’s a little…out of the loop??
October 29th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Come to think of it, the Conservatorship is probably just an extension of the arrangement that already existed prior to April 2007.
In a sense.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Why not depose Howard Grossman? Or maybe he has been deposed?
October 29th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Yes this sounds like a legal move. From what I’ve read this can be disolved later on so permanent is not really permanent but means for now and the forseeable future. Keeps her off the witness stand and from being deposed etc. This gives them the right to say no when they do not want her to do something. I would say she is safer this way. No lions in sheeps clothing can get in easily. She will have the protective fence around her and we can all see she is better and is happier to some degree and she can see her kids now.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
And good morning to all.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Safer, I don’t know about happier.
I wonder who else didn’t get paid during that time.
Steel what do you mean?
October 29th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
About the Conservatorship being an extension of a prior arrangement?
October 29th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
If this is what you meant…Around December 2006, Brit started firing everyone around her. First her house staff, then Larry Rudolph, then her P.R. lady, etc. Her assistant, Felicia, was also gone.
However, from the time she hit it big until her divorce was filed, she had all of these professionals in place, as well as her Mom, who were managing pretty much every aspect of her life. (I’m saying this based on various stories I’ve read in magazines like Rolling Stone, Blender, etc.) She probably had very little contact with “normal” folks, since she was constantly on tour. She lived, by the sounds of it, in a bubble – much like many other celebrities. Michael Jackson is just one person who comes to mind.
Once she had fired all of the professionals around her, and was no longer speaking with her family, she was, possibly for the first time, living life like a “normal” person. However, she had little experience with normal, every day activities like paying MasterCard bills or making mortgage payments. It might explain why her fortune dwindled so quickly once she was on her own.
Now, she’s back to having her life managed for her, much like it was previous to the divorce being filed.
It might actually be back to what she would consider “normal.”
October 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I thought part of the conservatorship was to lead her to the point where she was able to make her own decisions regarding her finances too. It isn’t normal for other people to have all that control. She needs to see where her money is going.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
small hands, I agree.
Something tells me that “control” is what led to her break-down to begin with…
October 29th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
But us “normal” people do not have the wealth that she does. Most of the wealthy people – stars or not – have someone that takes care of that kind of thing. They may or may not overlook what is being paid but they usually have someone on payroll that sees to those small details. Being on her “own” may not be something that she can handle. Some people can not and that is why they end up in bankruptcy or they loose their house or cars or whatever.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I think that’s the problem – she can’t handle it on her own right now. Looking back, I wonder if her parents and/or management team wishes they had involved her in the decison-making and finances a bit more?
Or…I don’t know. It’s hard to say, because I don’t really know what’s wrong with her. I know her Mom claims she was “overwhelmed with life,” but that certainly doesn’t explain why she’d need to be under conservatorship at this point in time. There’s much more to the story, and we’re not really being let in on the details.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
no we are not but there are alot of people out there that can not handle finances. The c-ship may just be a barrier that protects her right now because of that. They don’t want all the lions coming after her and that sounds like what was about to happen yesterday. I would say most of the stars have someone else that pays the bills etc and they do not do it themselves and she did get over her head. It was probably a painful lesson learned.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Her Mom’s book…Did it make any mention of what the issues were? Any mention of mental illness? I’ve heard she just says that Brit was “overwhelmed with life,” but doesn’t really say anything more.
If been avoiding reading that book…I may have to take the time to read it soon.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I still have not bought it. I keep saying I’ll get it but I have not so far. Maybe AM can tell us. I know she has the book.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Steel and gigi—please don’t buy that book. I hate it was written.
I understand people with her kind of wealth have someone “paying the bills”, but she still needs to see how it is done and where/who the money is going.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I agree but how many of the rich and/or famous really do that. I doubt Bill Gates or Oprah really pay their own bills. They have staff that does or financail managers that do.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Heck, I’m borrowing it from the library. I’m not putting any more money into Lynne’s pockets!
I was thinking about people like Angelina Jolie. She’s what, 33? I don’t imagine she sits around balancing her own chequebook, but if she had a question about how her money was being handled, she’d know who to ask, what to ask, and she’d understand what was being told to her. I’m getting the opinion that this isn’t stuff that Brit was ever taught growing up – how to understand money and how it works. I hope she’s being taught this now, that’s for sure.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
When Brit was on her own, it was Howard Grossman that was managing her money. That was his job as her Business Manager. So she DID have someone doing it for her. But if she doesn’t understand how money works, then she has no way of knowing whether to trust him (or any other Manager) or not.
So in that sense, it’s good that her brother/father/lawyers are at the helm. But I certainly hope there’s a plan for weaning them out.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I agree. I don’t Angelina doing this so why should Britney do it. Oversee it yes but do it no. I know that most people have problems handling their own small money. It would be even harder with lots of money. If they didn’t bankruptcy cases would not be going through the roof in my office and other trustee offices. Some of it is the mortgage interest problem but for the most part people do not know how to handle their money and are over their head.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I would think there is a plan. I also think that getting her out from under the c-ship should be private and not broadcast so the lions can attack. If and when she comes out it should not be told. Yes I know I’m dreaming and living in fairytell world because that will never happen.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Steel – You think the library has a copy of the book? I had not thought of that. I feel a visit coming on to see. lol
October 29th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
How soon we forget.
” LeBrock lost money on the plan, she alleged, as a result of Grossman’s “slipshod performance” and unprofessional work. Not only did he fail to “properly and competently” evaluate the feasibility of the venture, the suit claimed the Beverly Hills accountant also bounced checks and failed to pay bills, causing LeBrock “emotional distress.”
The actress said she was not aware of the damage Grossman caused to her finances until October 1997, when other financial advisors informed her.”
“Los Angeles Times” http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jan/14/local/me-54019
October 29th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
so like I said even though she may have had someone paying the bills for her that doesn’t mean it was being done correctly and if she had not be taught she would not know the difference. This legal move is probably for the best even if we do not like it or if we do not think it is needed.
October 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Louis Pearlman.
Only if you are bored Steel and wish to flush out the details of a story.
Birds of a feather flock together….maybe.
October 29th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Hey everyone. I’ve been out in the field the last couple days and have not meant to ignore you. Everyone was indeed shocked to hear about the c-ship. That came out of no where considering we were expecting this on Thursday.
It’s going to be an interesting next couple weeks. Quiet, but interesting.
October 29th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Hey, Ronnie. I keep missing Adnan, but I’ve always wanted to ask him about his photos. Does he do artsy fartsy photos, too? Or just pap photos? To me, some of the pap photos are pretty artsy in their own right…
If you ever see him around, can you ask him and let us know?
I’d actually love to see all of your work in an exhibition or something. I live far, far from L.A., but it would love to see an on-line show of all your favourite work.
October 29th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I just got to thinking about Britney and Adnan, and the situation as it was in January and as it might (or might not) be now…and it led me to thinking of Adnan (and all of you) as photographers and cinematographers.
That’s where that last thought came from, if you were wondering…
October 29th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
October 29th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Ronnie, why on Thursday? Thanks for validating the shock for some of us.
Do you have 2 cts on Wright?
And as MT suggested, some turns on Tuesday were very bold.
MT thanks for not just leaving me out there or rather here, as I was alone for awhile.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Louis Pearlman…I THOUGHT I knew that name from somewhere. LOL
October 29th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Steel you know more than I. Once and for all was it Larry who found Britney or Johnny? Just curious.
It’s been alot of info to process in the past 10 mos., between understanding the industry, getting pap culture, and then so many players.
Do you understand the Wright move at all? It’s seems very aggressive for such a “prominent” wealthy man. It also seems if his quest was so legit that the Spears family would have given him access to some financial records.
This owing “at least” $15,000 is disturbing.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Sorry, I was interrupted. You followed some aspects of the case more closely than I. Did Wright want access to “all” of the records?
I am baffled as to his move yesterday. Why the sense of urgency? Where was his sense of decency and respect for the family at this time? And has he been “trying to work it out” with Papa Spears and Spears’ attorneys all of this time?
What could he possibly gain out of a deposition of Britney Spears? She didn’t handle her own money that we know of. In fact wasn’t there an article on that? Howard Grossman handled her money.
Anyway, Wright’s camp stinks.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I was wondering where everybody was!!!
October 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I guess the whole thing just stinks.
Bad PR for Wright especially on artists who still work with him, “If he treats her like that, he’s going to treat me the same way.” Something like that.
And if money was really what he was after, why not wait a day or so, and then ask for a deposition?
There’s exposure here. That’s two stinks in a row between the recent jury trial and this.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
As I wondered where you were Doc.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Care to opine your 2 cts on what happened yesterday?
October 29th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Doc, I’ve recovered from throwing myself into a wall, and am now partying in this thread.
But anything I say wrong from here on in I’m still going to blame on yoyo! LOL
October 29th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
lol @ Steel. At least you didn’t end up like yoyo.
I’m still looking at recipes.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I’m supposed to be Photoshopping right now…So I’m cooking and working at the same time.
Don’t tell my boss.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
The Wright case…
I haven’t followed it too closely, but I imagine that the court dates would’ve been scheduled a while ago. At the same time, nobody knew the Conservatorship was going to extend this long. Perhaps Jamie wasn’t sure of whether he’d have the power to issue the injunction until the last minute, so that’s why it was ex parte (vs. a regular injunction, which requires both parties to be notified and have a say before the injunction is issued?)
October 29th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I’m not Brit expert, but I was also under the impression that Pearlman discovered her, Wright shaped her image, and Larry managed her actual career. Somebody could certainly straighten me out on this one…
October 29th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Oops, should be “I’m no Brit expert.” I didn’t really follow her at the beginning of her career…I was more into the Chili Peppers at the time. LOL
October 29th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Wait, Lou Pearlman?! Nevermind…
October 29th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I’m getting my bubble gum mixed up. Ignore me. LOL
October 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I have never heard that Pearlman found her. He was an employer of Wright. Backstreet boys sued them both for pilfering from them, and I guess Backstreet boys were also feeling like indentured servants.
When Pearlman, Svengali, himself was “discovered” Wright distanced himself.
Here’s what I got and gain this is just for a picture or understanding an industry or… (pointing fingers ….)
Britney (was she 18 and signing her own contracts) signed with Wright in 1999 in a contract through Feb 2008.
In 2003 the two parted ways. Larry was his replacement?
Oh bother Steel. This can not all be to the amusement of our community and after yesterday…
I don’t know. Wright’s camp stinks. That’s what I know and yesterday was “weird.” October 28th has been a known date since July 2008?
October 29th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Pearlman is in jail.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Yeah, I made that part up about Pearlman.
I’m blaming that on yoyo.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I have a lot of days that are “weird.” Why is that?! LOL
October 29th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Let’s all blame yoyo. Afterall she’s in the deep freeze, pureed and ready to go.
Do I want savory or sweet? I can’t decide. I kind of think I have enough for two recipes, possibly three.
Whatever did become of Margo .. and that third one?
October 29th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
lol @ kitty
October 29th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
so gone
October 30th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Gigi and Steel, good idea to borrow the book from the library. No need to give Lynne more money.
I remember watching Oprah a few yrs ago and she said that she personally signs every check and makes sure who is getting paid and why. She supposedly learned a lesson the hard way and had to do that. She says it takes time, but she needs to see where her money is going.
We’ll see where all this goes. All I really want for her is to get joint custody of her kids back. That’s more important than new music. At least for me it is.
October 30th, 2008 at 9:13 am
small hands, I think that’s where I’m going when I question her doing live TV performances AND being under conservatorship. I’m maybe a little too worried that she’s either a) not well enough for live performances and is being pushed into it too soon, or b) too well to be under conservatorship and is being talked into it by people who want to retain control over her.
And why do I even care about someone who I’ve never even met, and whose music I didn’t even listen to that much?! This blog thing…it’s kind of strange. After following this whole thing over the past year over the Internet, day in and day out, getting almost minute by minute updates at times, I guess I’ve gotten attached to this little family…In particular, SP and JJ! I’d rather see them with their Mom back than to see her with a #1 single – any day. I hope it all pans out right for them.
October 30th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
lol. Quiet but interesting.
Ian Halperin hasn’t said boo in months about Britney. When he finally does speak he reveals to the world that Britney loves Jewish people.
mw, Jamie and Johnny are sitting down on November 18th … progress
October 30th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
correction 17th
October 30th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I think Ian loves Britney. lol
October 30th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Steel you read my mind. Those are the two things I wonder about also.
AM how do you know about the Jamie and Johnny meeting on the 17th?
And who is Ian? Is he Britney lawyer, the one who is suppose to speak on her behalf?
October 30th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Ian is the guy that posed as a pap and somehow gained the inside scoop to Britney during Sam’s time. Now there is suppose to be a book coming out telling about it. Ian Heppering – not sure of the spelling. Ianundercover.com I think is the site.
October 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Small – from an article at E!
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b66023_britney_agrees_permanent.html
Small, you might remember Ian best for when the tabloids went naughty with first Adnan, then Ian and Brit’s “three” suicide attempts, then a court date for Britney. Then Adnan, then Ian, and then Brit’s now “4 or 5 suicides” etc. (3 I guess was sensational enough)
On the second of third cycle, before a court date this year, misinformation from Lynne’s book was also cycled.
Those are the patterns I saw anyhow. After the first “leak” (and misinformation) from Ian’s book, Ian did a few interviews to try to show his sympathy and compassion for Britney, while he allayed some of the meaner rumors being circulated.
Since then he opened up his website and has been very very quiet about Britney. That’s why I thought it was funny that of all the things he might have written, he’d write that he loved that Britney told him she loves Jewish people, that they have a rich history and are sexy.
Ian’s site seems to have a lot of sex and Jewish nuances but then he played a gay Jewish actor at the same time he was playing an undercover paparazzi. It’s Halperin by the way.
gigi and I were wondering just now offline how Halperin could have gotten so close to Britney especially with Sam around. I suggested he would have had to play a low radar non-threat.
October 30th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Clay Townsend’s current litigation :
Wright Entertainment Group, LLC v. .Britney Spears. (9th Cir. Business Court)
* Breach of Contract, Accounting
* Client (Johnny Wright) was the former manager for Spears and currently manages Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and other artists.
* Expert Report Damages: $5,000,000.00
* Status: Still in discovery.
http://www.forthepeople.com/clay_m_townsend.htm
hmm… $5M v $15K.
Why hasn’t the figure $5 MILLION made the press?
October 31st, 2008 at 12:15 am
Wolk?
October 31st, 2008 at 2:02 am
Thank you Steel. I knew nothing about Ian.
$5 million in damages? This is the first time I’ve heard of this enormous amount. I thought it was less than $100,000 that he was wanting to get from her.
Not sure if anyone ever cleared up the Louis Pearlman stuff. I’ve been a fan of Britney’s for awhile and, if I remember correctly, she was suppose to be part of girl group called Innosense that was managed by Pearlman. It didn’t work out and she went solo instead.
http://www.innosensemusic.com/bio.php
There is no mention of Pearlman in the bio, but I do remember his name being attached in the past.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:44 am
If the $5M is correct then that in itself is enough to keep her in the c-ship while they figure out all that. To me that sounds like someone trying to get something for nothing and they hoping that the c-ship would go away and Daddy couldn’t/wouldn’t stop it. $5K vs $5m – thats a lot of difference.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:27 am
I can’t take credit for the info on the Wright case – that was Amethyst’s work.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:30 am
From what I understand, Wright DOES have a case. He signed a contract with Brit to cover a certain number of albums (e.g. was supposed to be paid a percent of profits since he was the one that crafted her “Britney” image – naughty schoolgirl, voice, etc.)
I gathered that the problem occured after she started letting go of her management. People weren’t getting paid that should’ve, and others were getting paid that shouldn’t have (Lutfi?!). Her finances ended up a mess and they had to do a huge audit. (I never heard the results of that, come to think of it.)
Then there’s also the IRS issues with Jive. That was to the tune of something like $17-million. I’m not sure if she owed Jive, or if Jive owed her.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:34 am
This stuff can all be dealt with whether she’s under the C-Ship or not. But the C-Ship certainly looks to be keeping her off the stand (while keeping Jamie there in her place).
And, it means is IS dealt with. That’s a good thing, I guess.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:38 am
I guess they won’t know how much Wright is owed until they complete an audit of her finances. (And maybe figure things out with Jive?) It might be somewhere in the thread above…But I’m not sure what the original contract was. Was he to get a percentage of a certain figure? If so, they’d have to figure out the figure first. (Does that even make sense?!)
Okay, I’m done for now. Whew!
October 31st, 2008 at 11:09 am
It just sounds like to me dad had a medical reson for the c-ship in the beginning and now it is to keep her off the stand. That might not be a bad thing. If the c-ship were to end she may have people coming out of the woodwork to sue her for something that happened in the bad times. No telling what is hiding that we dont know about or have not thought of. Dad is just protecting his little girl.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:27 am
Stuff from 2003
http://talk.livedaily.com/archive/index.php/t-345803.html
October 31st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Wow, Ama, good find!
Some of those comments…It was if they were predicted her career path, way back in 2003.
So…this kind of sounds like a case of Brit’s people not reading the fine print. It sounds like he stopped managing her in 2003, so she stopped paying him in 2003. But the contract stipulated that he was still supposed to get a cut for a certain number of albums (or something to that effect). Tricky, tricky.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Gigi, you said, “No telling what is hiding that we dont know about or have not thought of.”
I think you’re on to something there. Yikes.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
This might be why we hear about people like Toni Braxton going bankrupt. If you suddenly find yourself quite wealthy and don’t have the right people looking after you, you can loose it all pretty quickly.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Good morning. Did you guys verify the link back to Clay Townsend? It’s spelled out $5,000,000.00
Here are a few more details.
December 2006 — The State of Florida takes Louis Pearlman to court for fraud (for more info go to http://tampabay.com/ and search the archives — you should be able to see text without paying. Also see blogs.tampabay.com/money)
The question for me becomes how tight Johnny Wright and Pearlman were at the time. Also by the way, I read that Wright’s company did receive payments by Britney Spears but with no explanation as to what the payments were for? Hence the accounting “nightmare?” I don’t know.
Pearlman went on the lam but was captured in June 2007 and returned to the United States. Would you believe his own defense attorney was one of the ones in touch with the FBI prior to this? I guess Pearlman owed him millions of dollars in back fees.
10/27/2007 Complaint was filed in Orlando against Britney Spears
10/29 – an electronic Summons was issued to Britney Touring Inc and to Britney Spears
(all public information if you know where to find it)
paper goes out etc.
12/18/07 Motion for Default in favor of Plaintiff Wright(were they just not hearing from Spears’ during that time?) Proposed Default presented to the Clerk.
2/12/08 Exhibits in Support of Case Management Report. (Multiple exhibits were offered.) EXHIBITS IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR ENTRY OF FINAL DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND SUPPORTING MEMORANDUM OF LAW and Motion for Final Judgment.
NOTICE OF HEARING EXPARTE SET FOR 2/14/2008 @ 8:30 AM
12/14/08 FINAL JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT IN FAVOR OF PLTF WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC AND WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC AGAINST DEFT BRITNEY SPEARS SENT TO RECORDING
(I don’t pretend to understand what all went down between this date and March. In other words I don’t know what is the most important thing to post)
3/24/08 Case re-opened NOTICE OF FILING VERIFICATION OF ANDREW WALLET IN SUPPORT OF VERIFIED MOTION T O SET ASIDE FINAL DEFAULT JUDGMENTS AND INCORPORATED MEMORANDUM OF LAW
You’ll have to see for yourself April 14th for there indeed are reports from TMZ to MTV as exhibits. I believe they were in support of conservatorship, i.e. Britney not showing up for a critical custody hearing.
(read the court proceedings for yourself. It seems that proof was required for all four orders of temporary conservatorship?)
4/14/08 Affidavits and a video prove Britney (and Britney Touring Inc.) was Served. Also, RESPONSE TO DEFENDANTS’ VERIFIED MOTION TO SET ASIDE FINAL DEFAULT JUDGMENTS; AND PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO STRIKE IMPROPER AND INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE AND PLAINTI FFS’ RENEWED MOTION FOR FINAL DEFAULT JUDGMENT (I wonder how much the default judgment was for…$5 mil?)
4/23/08 7 subpoenas were issued by Attorney
I think the subpoenas went to:
Signatures Network, Zomba Recording Corp., Covington, Gerber & Co., Zomba Enterprises, Zedeck, Rudolph, and Padell.
10/27/08 EXHIBITS IN SUPPORT OF EXHIBIT A – DEFENDANTS’ APPLICATION TO LA SUPERIOR COUR T FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER
EXHIBITS IN SUPPORT OF EXHIBIT B – AGREED ORDER VACATING DEFAULT JUDGMENTS
10/27/2008 P999 EXHIBITS IN SUPPORT OF EXHIBIT A – DEFENDANTS’ EXPARTE APPLICATION FOR PROTECT IVE ORDER TO LA SUPERIOR COURT
10/27/2008 P999 EXHIBITS IN SUPPORT OF EXHIBIT B – AGREED ORDER VACATING DEFAULT JUDGMENTS
10/27/2008 P999 EMERGENCY MOTION FOR INJUNCTION TO ENJOIN DEFENDANTS’ EFFORTS TO INTERFERE WITH FLORIDA JURISDICTION
10/27/2008 P999 EMERGENCY MOTION FOR INJUNCTION TEMPORARY OR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION TO ENJOIN D EFENDANTS’ EFFORTS TO INTERFERE WITH FLORIDA JURISDICTION
10/28/2008 P999 CERTIFICATE OF NO OBJECTION TO THIRD PARTY DISCOVERY
10/28/2008 P999 NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF PLAINTIFFS’ EMERGENCY MOTION FOR TEMPORARY OR PRELIMIN ARY INJUNCTION TO ENJOIN DEFENDANTS’ EFFORTS TO INTERFERE WITH FLORIDA JURISDIC TION
10/28/2008 ORDER
(note – it does not appear that Howard Grossman is ever subpoenaed. Was he or wasn’t he her money man or CPA?)
October 31st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
sorry for the long post but I’m pretty sure it’s documentation none of us have ever seen.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I wonder what date Grossman was brought on board as her business manager? I’ve never been able to track down a date.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Just thinking here…What year did she turn 18? Is that the age, in the U.S., when people are legally considered an adult?
This stuff might have all started to go down hill once her parents were no longer legally able to manage her money for her. And now that the C-Ship is in place they’re able to legally get back in there and straighten everything out.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I don’t know but he was there until Jamie fired him right? If Rudolph was issued a subpoena then why not Grossman?
October 31st, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Neither here nor there but it wouldn’t surprise me if Pearlman was found to fraudulently have bilked Britney.
I can’t remember if was Backstreet Boys of N’Sync but Pearlman had made himself on paper a sixth member of the band. So he got both his 15% commission, and then he got paid “his” 17% share of profit as a band member.
Meanwhile with the new information do Tuesday’s actions make anyone less suspicious of the Conservators’ interests and intentions?
October 31st, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Good question!
As far as I understood, Larry didn’t even manage her money…
Is it possible nobody even knew Grossman was the guy in charge? Maybe she hired him some time AFTER June 2007, when she gave her Mom the faux restraining order and had already cut pretty everyone else out of her life?
October 31st, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Oops…Should read, “pretty much everyone else…”
October 31st, 2008 at 1:24 pm
This actually makes me LESS suspicious of the Conservator’s intentions.
And it explains why they may be setting her up to tour already. Touring is where the money is, and if her finances really are in the crapper, then they may be trying to save her from having to take more drastic measures than just selling off a few cars.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Was/is Wright considered an “undue influences?”
Here are the last entries immediately preceding 10/27/08. I don’t fully comprehend what they mean.
10/1/2008 MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE AMENDED AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES TO THE COMPLAINT AND FOR LEAVE TO FILE A COUNTERCLAIM AND THIRD-PARTY COMPLAINT
10/21/2008 P999 AGREED PROPOSED ORDER GRANTING AGREED MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR PLAINTIF FS’ RESPONSE TO DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE AMENDED AFFIRMATIVE DEFENS ES TO THE COMPLAINT AND FOR LEAVE TO FILE A COUNTERCLAIM
10/23/2008 P999 AGREED MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR PLAINTIFFS’ RESPONSE TO DEFENDANTS’ MOT ION FOR LEAVE TO FILE AMENDED AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES TO THE COMPLAINT AND FOR LEA VE TO FILE A COUNTERCLAIM AND THIRD PARTY COMPLAINT
I can verify, as it appears, there was no action or response from Britney’s side until 3/24/08 Did she have zero legal counsel? Were the conservators unaware until that time frame?
October 31st, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I agree with you Steel. I’ve thought the money was in the crapper from early on.
I think Britney turned 18 in 1999, the same time she signed on with Wright fyi.
Anyway, I’m showing Exhibits in Support of the Motion for Default Judgment without the prosecution having subpoenaed anyone? How did the prosecution arrive at $5 Million?
October 31st, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Any idea of what this is?
11/19/2007 COPIES OF COMPLAINT TO DAMION STEWART, PACIFIC PHOTOCOPY MAILED SASE FEDERAL XPRESS TRK#7903 7661 0946
(I tracked)
Tracking number
790376610946
Signed for by
D.STEWERT
Ship date
Nov 19, 2007
Delivery date
Nov 20, 2007 11:34 AM
Destination
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
Service type
Standard Overnight
Status
Delivered
Signature image
available
Yes
Date/Time
Activity
Location
Details
Nov 20, 2007 11:34 AM
Delivered
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
October 31st, 2008 at 2:03 pm
All the legal terms give me a headache.
AM thank you for the Ian info. I had thanked Steel before, my mistake.
As for Johnny Wright, he really set himself up to get paid even AFTER he no longer worked for her or had her best interests at heart. It’s all about business and money. A bit sad really.
I think I understand the conservatorship better now and it makes more sense now.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Thanks small. It gives me a headache too and without more of a legal background I can not make the most sense out of them alone.
I wonder what a financial impact losing Pearlman as a business partner had on Johnny Wright.
Anyone have the video of Britney being served? I seem to remember one with Sam in it and the server was an older man? I remember an elevator?
October 31st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Oh I remember that. Didn’t he open the passenger door and throw it in the passenger seat?
October 31st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
yes i remember something throwing something in a door but had no idea what it was then. I do understand some of the legal jargon and it still gives me a headache. No wonder they are not letting her out yet. Seems it has nothing really to do with her state of mind but it really is a legal move. They don’t want someone making her talk. They want her to keep quiet while the lawyers and Dad fix this mess.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I think the judge said that Britney’s status as to her capacity has not been decided one way or the other since the last evaluation?
It seems to me between the judge and the conservators that they are trying to protect Britney.
No telling what Wright (now that we know more about him and what’s at stake) might ask Britney.
I mean if Michael Flanagan had to explain things to her about the charge in California and the legal proceedings. Also the conservators are not the only people the judge has access to as “expert testimony” about what’s good for Britney and not or her capacity.
I don’t think anyone wants to “keep Britney quiet” … I don’t think that is the motive. It’s to protect her from “undue influence.” Remember that was from the judge.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:57 pm
depends on the definition of keeping her quiet. They do not want her on the witness stand and let the other attorney get ahold of her. I know how attorneys are and how ugly they can be to people when they know the person can not leave and must answer their questions. My guess is they do not want her answering questions from any attorney but her own right now. Her attorny and her dad must fix this first then let her have her life back.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I agree. As long as she is in any legal mess and can not testify on her own behalf it seems there will be c-ship.
At least I don’t have to picture Jamie as a big of an ogre as I have on some days. I have enough information to at least give him the benefit of doubt.
I don’t know how MT feels or what he knows. More than me — I do know that at least in the L.A. realm.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Aha. They misspelled Damion. It’s Damien Stewart of Holland & Knight.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I am not a lawyer but … Holland & Knight got a copy of the complaint against their client but did nothing? But yet there is record of payment by Britney to the court…. Am I reading this wrong?
Total Amount Due: $0.00
Date Party Type Amount Description
10/29/2007 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Assessment $255.00 FILING FEE – $141.75
10/29/2007 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Payment $255.00 PAYMENT
10/29/2007 BRITNEY SPEARS Assessment $255.00 FILING FEE – $141.75
10/29/2007 BRITNEY SPEARS Payment $255.00 PAYMENT
11/2/2007 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Assessment $25.00 COPIES
11/2/2007 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Payment $25.00 PAYMENT
11/2/2007 BRITNEY SPEARS Assessment $25.00 COPIES
11/2/2007 BRITNEY SPEARS Payment $25.00 PAYMENT
11/29/2007 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Assessment $25.00 COPIES
11/29/2007 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Payment $25.00 PAYMENT
11/29/2007 BRITNEY SPEARS Assessment $25.00 COPIES
11/29/2007 BRITNEY SPEARS Payment $25.00 PAYMENT
3/28/2008 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Assessment $7.00 COPIES – CIRCUIT CIVIL
3/28/2008 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Payment $5.50 PAYMENT
3/28/2008 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Payment $1.50 PAYMENT
10/28/2008 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Assessment $25.00 COPIES – CIRCUIT CIVIL
10/28/2008 WRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC Payment $25.00 PAYMENT
October 31st, 2008 at 4:35 pm
The last attorney of record listed was JUDITH M MERCIER also of Holland & Knight.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Correction. Holland & Knight sought $50,807.16 for their services from March 1 to July 31, 2008. They had payment from Spears in payment ordered by the court.
Click on “View the documents” See p4 if interested
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b27901_never-ending_story_britneys_legal_bills.html
October 31st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Way too much seriousness today. Who is having trick or treaters?
October 31st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Look what just popped up at BH!
Official Circus Tracklist
1. Womanizer
2. Circus
3. Out From Under
4. Kill The Lights
5. Shattered Glass
6. If U Seek Amy
7. Unusual You
8. Blur
9. Mmm Papi
10. Mannequin
11. Lace and Leather
12. My Baby
Bonus Track:
13. Radar
Ahhhhhhh…Look what’s number 9!
October 31st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Yea! Thank you so much Steel!
October 31st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
What do you think of the cover?
http://www.britneyspears.com/2008/10/britney-spears-circus-cover-and-tracklist-released.php
October 31st, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Hmm…Reminds me of her first album cover…
I don’t know…I liked the photos inside Blackout…the ones of her in the confession booth. They’re more my style.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I’m trying to hunt down the lyrics to Mmm Papi, to no avail. Should be interesting…they’re sure to be debated about on-line quite a bit.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:14 pm
wow. I can’t wait till it comes out. I’ll be at the stores that morning.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:16 pm
There will always be people (usally men) who try to get their hands on money if they think they can drive cases to the limit of the other parts enervation.
As soon you have money, they are there.
Thats why I say, I would never want to be an artist, and then have to reable on stranger looking after my money. I dont trust bank people, or lawyers. Seen to much honky ponky and footwork from them.
Britney have her family, her father. And thats good.
She is a singer and an artist, she have her interest in things around that, not in buiwsness affairs.
I hope she get enough money to pay this “father of the year” the ransaom he will demand, and then get her kids back.
After that I hope she live LA and that as fast as she can, with the kids.
She can continue in line of singing/acting business if she want to, but she need no longer stay in LA.
By a farm! Have a good life! Go on create things!
I hope she never trust people who have in their proffesion to handle money.
They maybe start clean, but they always ended dirty. I have seen to much dirty work, lissen to bla bla pettifogger who use the law to do Against the Law. Make one very tired and fed up.
Dad and mom did the first contract with Wright.
What happend after I don’t know about.
Wright have no STAR longer in his “cabinet” as I understand, so he goes after Britney.
Problem with Britney is that she is a sweet person who DONT wake up every morning and thinking:
“Who shall I use today, who shall I live on, who shall I try to give a hell?”
Its NOT in her personality. And to be a nice person is not OK at all.
You get your heart broken (look what Kevin Federline done, talk about scallywag) and evil people always will try to use you.
I hope she managing to get out of this hugger-mugger situation who people hold her in.
Hope she can have some wonderful years with the kids before they get to big, and hope she get love, not only from her family and her fans.
Sadly this finace situation will not make anything easier..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRlw9jqyZ4c
October 31st, 2008 at 5:16 pm
So the papi song was true! LMAO
I want the lyrics to that song.
Not sure how I like the cover. I like the letters. I expected a tent of some sort. She is beautiful.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Ama, Johnny Wright manages Justin Timberlake and the Jonas Bros, so he’s doing well for himself.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:23 pm
For the album cover…
I was imagining some big tall black boots…Or something similar in style to the Chili Pepper’s “Soul to Squeeze” video. Something quirky.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
small
Wrong of me, I did not know that.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Did you doubt our guys were telling us the truth? hummm Our guys don’t lie to us. Sounds like the other sites will be back to slammin our friend again
October 31st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Yes you are right Steel. Old Johnny was there with Justin as they carved out music together to hurt Britney Spears. Do you remember some of those videos? As Britney said in an interview, “I wouldn’t have handled it that way.” Justin’s actions, Justin’s music.
Heck the music is still being played. Justin didn’t write one the one that became a musical theme in a movie. But he sang it, agreed to it, relished it as a performer.
Wright got fired and was sued along with Pearlman by the Backstreet Boys for missing funds. I think it was Backstreet Boys… a simple google will prove it.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:42 pm
small
I read that he “have worked” = imperfectum, with.. Justin and so on.
I thought it was no realtion any longer.
But who knows what kind of contracts he have with those artists?
October 31st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Also we still haven’t answered or discovered how much of a financial impact the loss of Pearlman had on his business partner, Johnny Wright.
mw, a quick catchup on the Backstreet Boys, Pearlman and Wright.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425240/19981015/backstreet_boys.jhtml
October 31st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
So was Wright involved in “Cry Me A River”??
October 31st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Was he his manager? Is he his manager? Steel you must actually be working hard on your documentary and taking breaks.
Normally you are up on all of this and telling “us” stuff.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Ha! I can’t be a know-it-all ALL of the time! LOL
October 31st, 2008 at 5:53 pm
You gotta wonder about “Shattered Glass” off Britney’s new album.
Go Brit!
Ama can you find Justin’s “Cry Me a River” video?
October 31st, 2008 at 5:55 pm
corrections again and again
After that I hope she leave LA and that as fast as she can, with the kids.
There are probably many more wrong spelling, if anyone read the comment I done
October 31st, 2008 at 5:57 pm
AM
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7p4mioawIA
October 31st, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Ama… I get confused as to what videos you can find/see on youtube and what you can not.
Note to self: post name and link when posting anything from youtube.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:05 pm
AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgwK6TTfF3I
October 31st, 2008 at 6:06 pm
matching hat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdhn_jAldoQ
Apologize (Britney and Justin) It’s Too Late
October 31st, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I’m trying to find the interview where Britney says I wouldn’t have handled it that way.
Steel. You do know Justin and Wright are FRIENDS?
I’m not saying anything really here or there just …
I don’t think any of us should relax and think that Johnny didn’t/doesn’t need the money.
There was way too much credibility by association in Pearlman’s case. It wasn’t just credibility it was the flash of his performance, the opulent office, the platinum records on his walls.
One last “dig” however at Justin is how he let Janet Jackson go up in flames during the Superbowl incident. She got blamed for it. She had to go to press. He didn’t. He did not stand with her as I understand and they were both a part of it.
I still don’t think she talks to him.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Justin does not have the strongest character nor most independent mind.
I’ll leave that to Adnan. Night and day.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:16 pm
“Amethyst Mine Says:
October 31st, 2008 at 6:01 pm Ama… I get confused as to what videos you can find/see on youtube and what you can not.
Note to self: post name and link when posting anything from youtube.”
OK AM
This is Britney and Kevin talking, and Britney talk about cry me a river.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgwK6TTfF3I
About the other thing..Ronnie have explain it to me, but I cant find it right now, and I dont dare to try to find the words myself.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:38 pm
From what I’ve read in the past, Johnny Wright did know about Justin’s music when he made it. He knew what was going on.
And I do believe he still manages Justin’s career. I think he is also behind the New Kids on the Block comeback. I read stuff in magazines and it stays in my head for some reason. But I can’t remember the source. I do know it wasn’t a tabloid.
I doubted the “papi” song because of it was in US Weekly, but I did believe it more when Ronnie said he believed it was true
October 31st, 2008 at 6:45 pm
October 31st, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Thanks Ama! Oh yes. She said he was a sellout. Good for her.
October 31st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
It doesn’t mean anything but after Wright’s divorce to Donna who co-managed Backstreet boys with him, he married Erika Schwartz, a Miss America runner up and attorney from New Orleans.
details
November 1st, 2008 at 4:52 am
AM about the Superbowl fiasco, he completely let her take the fall. I wouldn’t talk to him either if he had handled himself in the same manner.
November 1st, 2008 at 8:27 am
Yes it was all about saving himself and did nothing to help her. She is the one that had to face the people and say it was a malfuntion. He ran and hid.
November 1st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
And isn’t the same true for when he and Britney split? And was it necessary for him to correct or rather update their past together?
I appreciate he was in pain but was it necessary to retaliate in such public fashion? Music, videos, things he has said on stage and in interviews?
And according to BH today, the most he had to say about Womanizer was, “It’s cool.”
I wash my hands of him.
November 1st, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I have not seen any new pics of Brit the last few days. Did she sneek out of town and no one knew it? lol I sure hope so. She sure needs some time away from the Circus.
November 1st, 2008 at 4:47 pm
What do you mean no one knew?
R said it would be quiet but interesting. tee hee hee
November 1st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
This is for you Steel who asked whether Britney was 18 at the time of signing up with Johnny.
“Exhibits in the lawsuit filed by Wright’s attorney, Clay Townsend, include an agreement signed in 1999 by Spears’ parents on behalf of their daughter, who was a minor at the time, and later ones signed “Very truly yours” by Spears.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=3814298
(ala the Associated Press, Nov 2, 2007)
November 1st, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I just came across this. Here is the original Complaint and where the $15,000 figure came in. Maybe it has to be that much in Florida to consider having the jury trial demanded by Wright?
(small, I promise this was an easier read than earlier this week — that was hard reading without a legal dictionary).
http://www.tmz.com/2007/11/01/former-manager-to-brit-gimme-more-money/
November 1st, 2008 at 9:10 pm
The interesting thing about that ABC News article:
“Spears has allegedly not made a payment to Wright since December 2006.”
This was just around the time she started partying with Paris and Alli, and firing everyone around her. It makes sense that these payments slipped between the cracks. And I don’t really blame Wright for going after the money – business is business.
The dumb thing about the whole situation is that she ignored the lawsuit. I don’t know how it works in the U.S., but in my country, civil lawsuits are extremely expensive. Whichever side “looses” has to pay the other’s court costs. This could be why Brit is on the hook for so much more now than the original $15,000. If she had’ve dealth with it from the get-go, a lot of this could’ve been avoided.
Am I right or wrong here? Feel free to straighten me out…I’m kinda fuzzy on the laws in the U.S.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
From the TMZ article:
“The lawsuit, filed in Florida by attorney Clay Townsend on Monday, alludes to Spears’ erratic behavior of late, saying WEG made a concerted effort to work with “the various business managers hired and fired by Spears.”
This makes it sound like Howard Grossman just happened to be the business manager in charge during the 5150’s in January 2008. From the sound of it, there were others between December 2006 and November 2007, when the lawsuit was filed.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I guess what I’m saying is that Grossman was no string-puller. He just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Steel. You have to look at the court documents and also become familiar with Florida law. The plaintiff wanted a jury trial. This was repeated several times. There must be or was a set limit of $15,000 for this to happen.
Otherwise it’s small claims court. I think in my state that $5K or less.
If you read the documents the $15K was repeated a few times as was the desire for a jury trial, i.e., demands in excess of $15K merits a jury trial?
Also Steel and this is between you and I, I wish you would quit saying she fired all of these people without the outside help, inducement and so on of a third party.
I wish you would please consider a third party or parties when you pass what seems like judgment or swooping statements. If you don’t think there was a third party or influence just say it. Or if you think she felt she couldn’t trust anyone… and started to attack all around…
Was she alone or was someone in her ear? She doesn’t seem to be (or have been) a forthright dishonest person who doesn’t pay her bills or forget her friends.
Getting rid of Rudolph would have been important to some people. He was her trusted lawyer and presumably a friend.
I am intimately familiar with Divide and Conquer. I hope and would respect that you are not.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:12 pm
p.s. Steel, I hope I don’t sound snarky. I will make some calls next week and find out what is what.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I think she couldn’t trust anyone, and systematically cut one person after another out of her life. It began before Sam Lutfi even entered the picture – in fact, it’s what enabled Sam Lutfi to enter the picture.
I think Brit’s just a very strong-willed person who didn’t realize the impact that her decisions were making.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:15 pm
“She ignored the lawsuit” Steel wrote.
Did she? Or did someone she trusted told her not to worry or that it was taken care of. Or did she not receive and return important phone calls?
“Sam fucks up my phones.”
Nancy Grace, CNN wanted to know why Britney did not show up for such an important hearing — the custody hearing. Jason Kennedy reported (and this is all on transcript and film) that her lawyer told her she didn’t have to be there.
Jason’s source? Sam Lutfi. Confirm or deny.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Correction…She *thought* she couldn’t trust anyone, so she cut everyone out. Maybe she could trust them, but was being paranoid. Or maybe she has reason not to trust them.
I kind of prefer to go with the later…
November 1st, 2008 at 10:23 pm
The “she ignores the lawsuit” includes her and her business managers, starting in December 2006. So this was going on before Lutfi had much influence on her.
The problem could all boil down to a parting of the ways of numerous long-time staff, all around the same time. Who knows.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Steel are you defending Grossman? Just asking.
Wrong place wrong time my eye. Why wasn’t he subpoenaed by Wright? Wasn’t he a various business managers through February 2008?
November 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Nah, just saying that maybe Grossman isn’t the bad guy we thought he was. Maybe there’s, like, TEN bad guys, and Grossman just happened to be the bad guy in charge at the time of the 5150’s.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:40 pm
The lawsuit or Complaint came in October 2007.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Until then there was no lawsuit.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Thanks for clarifying btw.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:44 pm
p.s. It was Paris and Lohan not Paris and Alli she was partying with in December 2006. Meanwhile, per Britney’s assistant, Sam was moving in, asking questions about where Britney went, her schedule and so on.
Then there is his remark about being at this for nine months (I think) dating him back to February or so of 2007?
November 1st, 2008 at 10:45 pm
True, but the ABC article said the payments stopped in December 2006. Wright waited until the end of October 2007 before he filed suit. That means 10 months went by before he took action. For all we know, Grossman could’ve been hired in November 2007, after the lawsuit was filed.
It’s too bad we can’t track down a definite date…
November 1st, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I read where she “re-connected” with Alli in December 2006. Alli was already a friend of Avril Lavigne, and Paris and Avril partied together during that time period, so I assumed that Alli (and Lutfi) met Brit through these kinds of connections. Clubbing, partying. The kind of stuff I should be doing right now. LOL
November 1st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
This all reminds me of a quote from her father, to OK Magazine:
“She is very manipulative and cunning. So she gets what she wants a lot.”
“….I do understand that my baby made this monster,” he says, adding, “But when she was down, people took advantage.”
Paranoid? Or did she know what she was doing when she cut her father out of her life? Either way, Jamie’s probably right – when she was down, people took advantage. Wright may not be the bad guy here so much as the people who were supposed to be paying the bills and failed to do their jobs…along with the lawyers who were supposed to be looking after her as well.
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:30 am
Steel. Just poppin’ in. Shouldn’t we stop relying on media reports?
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 am
What’s the alternative?
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 am
You didn’t know until “I” reported it what was up for grabs: FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
You also had and have the court documents: $15,000 and “demand” (deservance? merit? Under the law?) for a jury trial. Did you see how many businesses Wright want revenue from? Plus attorneys’ fees, expenses and so on.
Downunder. Please weigh in. I could so use Wolk’s sense of humor and Cloud’s sense of .. what I am under.
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:46 am
Who’s on SNL tonight? Catch ya on the flipside!
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:05 am
Guess we’ll see what comes from all of this. So much stuff to read and remember.
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
small. How true. I think my frustration was beginning to show. The documents at TMZ are pretty easy to follow.
I can’t help but be suspicious as to the timing of the busiest motions by the plaintiff. October 2007 Brit losing her kids. May 7, 2008 major custody hearing in L.A. with the first public appearance of Britney at the courthouse in ages. Meanwhile, back in Orlando… Wright’s people were busy.
Coincidence?
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Steel I didn’t see your last message until this morning. I realized I was getting frustrated so logged off. Thanks for lightening things up. So who was on SNL?
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:26 am
So Steel, how about Janet Jackson? JT… JW…
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:01 am
I don’t even know who was on SNL this week…I was in La La Land before I even made it to that channel!
As for JT…even before the Janet incident, I thought he was a douchebag. A talented douchebag, but a douchebag nonetheless. The Janet incident just sealed the deal.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:13 am
Just thinking…
Is there any chance that the Wright lawsuit was one of the things that provoked her family to go after a C-Ship in the first place? Perhaps it was a warning sign to them that things were really starting to get out of hand when it came to her finances. Wright’s suit was filed at the end of October 2007…the C-Ship was being discussed on TMZ by the first week in January 2008. The timing fits.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Steel, that’s interesting about the c-ship. I recall rumors about her parents having a “creative” way of helping her. You could be onto something.
I agree about JT, I’ve never liked him, before, during, or after Britney. He always seemed arrogant to me.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Janet Jackson and JT are both with Johnny Wright.
It makes me wonder why Johnny didn’t help Janet more after the Superbowl incident.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
That is an interesting theory Steel.
I think it had to do more with what, to the Spears, was a life or death situation. Finances were a side part. The idea was to get her away from Sam.
What I wonder is whether someone in L.A. coordinated back with Orlando as to the timing of the events? The second 5150 was a well organized operation that had taken significant planning.
I’m suspicious.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I’m told that Lynn writes in her book that the C-Ship was planned at least six weeks in advance of the second 5150 (which was Jan. 31st, I think).
I agree it was becoming a life or death situation. The finances were just another reason that getting her under a C-Ship was becoming necessary.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if the lawsuit was co-ordinated to mesh up with events happening in L.A. It’s a dirty world, especially when a lot of money is involved.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:29 pm
WTF?! Johnny Wright managed JT and Janet at the SAME TIME during the “wardrobe malfunction”?!
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Thanks Steel. That’s kind of what I was looking for.
Per the book Jamie was ready with a c-ship on January 22nd. The plan for a c-ship had been in place for six weeks.
So somewhere between when she was in the bathroom with Jayden and the first 5150?
Lynne does not say anything about a mental illness that I know. She does remark on Britney’s post-partum illness and that when she came home “with the babies” for Christmas December 2006 that she seemed “sad and restless.”
“…Plus she was losing her aunt; we all were. That added to her pain. What I didn’t know then (did anybody know?) was how much she was truly suffering.”
I’ve lost someone to cancer by the way. It is a hideous time. Like Lynne I lost a sister and it was happening around Christmas time though it didn’t register like that. I didn’t know we were in for the real deal beginning New Years Day and it went for 28 days.
A metastases is horrible. I doubt that Lynne could have really been there for Britney and it strikes me that both times Britney could have really used her mother her mother was being significantly drawn on by others.
If Britney didn’t ask for a lot, and presumably wasn’t the type to burden others .. then yeah, could anyone know how much she was suffering?
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
p.s. I understand Jamie didn’t go for the c-ship on the 22nd due to his business partner’s urging, prayer and so on to wait.
I wonder if Britney knows she was rescued. I would assume so by now and the public statement that she never wants to see Sam again.
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Steel SNL – is this what we missed?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2008/11/is-john-mccain.html
November 4th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
“…Plus she was losing her aunt; we all were. That added to her pain. What I didn’t know then (did anybody know?) was how much she was truly suffering.”
—————
I think Lynn has been so completely out of touch with her daughter for a long time.
Everyone in America could see something was wrong. I always believed it was PPD.
There is blame to go around in this whole mess. Britney and everyone around her is to blame. My opinion.
November 4th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I think everyone in North American knew something was us when she married Jason Alexander! To say Lynn was out of touch is an understatement.
PPD is probably a good call. At the very least.
And I agree on your last statement, too. The ball got dropped early in the game, and nobody seemed to be making the right calls, Brit included.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
For some reason Small for the first time what you wrote in context to Lynn sunk in.
I guess people believe what they want to believe, e.g., “She’s fine!”
Maybe it’s because I just wrote a story that has some of that smiling versus … people seeing what they want to see, e.g. the smile versus what’s going on inside.
I appreciate your post.
New information coming guys.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Late afternoon or Thursday I hope.
I hope that after this election that states dispense with adding anything with candidates for office on ballots. This is ridiculous.
Sorry. I have CNN in my ear.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Dang me. Two alternate thoughts.
New info coming on Brit. The rest was about the election.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
AM, When I say I don’t like Lynn, that is why…It seems like Britney had been letting out little cries for help for a while (e.g. the quicky Vegas wedding onwards…) and her family and management seemed to be the last ones clueing in.
It always seemed like work, work, work. Another album, another tour, another perfume. To me, the Vegas wedding was the first real sign that she was trying to cry out, “Stop!” Then she married K-Fed, what, five months into the relationship? Then a baby. Then another baby. It seemed like she was trying to let her family and her management know that she just wanted to relax and live LIFE.
And yet here we are, just nine months after two trips to the psychiatric ward…another album, another tour, another perfume.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Well Steel. Sometimes a person, as in the actual person, has to pipe up.
I know from personal experience and people nick naming me Smiley. They still do but at least a few people see in and past.
I’ll never tell anyone I’m fine again unless I am.
Do I fault those around me? No, they are and were fallible human beings. It was and is up to me to cry HELP when I need it.
I don’t fault Britney either. I wonder if she was a pleaser.
I’ll tell you what. She’ll never be “coy” again in how she is doing.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
She probably was a pleaser. And she actually sounds a lot like me – a workaholic. It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that I finally clued in and learned how to sloooow doooown. It could be that she didn’t clue in – or anyone around her – until it was too late.
November 4th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
I can tell you this Steel. I know what it is to bear something and not complain.
Kids do that. Young adults too. And people wonder at the smiling kid with a 4.0 GPA etc. who offs themselves. “She always seemed so happy.”
You can not throw the book at Lynne. Should my family have noticed something earlier with me? Should they have seen through what was natural with me, to smile even when I was scared or nervous…?
small, Steel, please don’t throw the book at Lynne and at others so brusque.
I do remember once my mother calling the doctor because I was in physical pain, “She never complains,” she said. That was true so I must have been in real real physical pain to say anything. (I had a tooth or so pulled out … physical pain is different than anguish).
Consider?
I do not think Lynne is the beast that some people portray.
November 4th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Steel, in the court actions on public record it looks as though the Plaintiff brought in the “ugly” evidence to malign Britney’s character.
I didn’t know enough the first time I read through the court actions (accessible to you by the way) to know what side was presenting what.
They showed her not showing up for the custody hearing. They showed her park and drive off ticket thing.
They relied on MTV, VH1 and one particularly nasty website…. with biased media …
Is that right they should win that way? Ah but then came c-ship, responsibility, lawyers, CPAs, accountability and so on. Voila case reopened by the Defense.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:44 am
I always thought her quickie marriages had more to do with not feeling part of a “family”. Think about it, she’s worked her ass off since 15/16, her parents weren’t really there with her. One of them could have been, while the other was at home with Jamie Lynn. I think she’d been feeling that way for awhile.
I don’t hate Lynn. I know it may sound like I do, but I don’t. She irritates me to no end. I don’t want anymore magazine covers, interviews, or books talking about her family. That’s all.
It’s hard not to see the same thing happening again. A CD, tour, etc., during a time when I feel the most important thing is getting her kids back. It always goes back to work work work.
We’ll see if everyone has learned some sort of lesson from this past year.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I don’t think Lynn’s a terrible person…But she certainly seems to have dollar signs in her eyes. Work, work, work = money, money, money.
I think many of the things Lynn does are crass – her book, selling Jamie Lynn’s baby photos to OK! Magazine…Money seems to come above integrity with her sometimes. I’ve felt that way about her for years and years – but I’d certainly love find reason to change my opinion about her.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I wonder if touring the world must have been quite lonely. It’s probably not nearly as glamourous as it appears, especially if you’re doing it at a young age without your parents around. I’d never thought of it that way before…
November 5th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Amethyst Mine Says:
November 4th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
They showed her not showing up for the custody hearing. They showed her park and drive off ticket thing.
They relied on MTV, VH1 and one particularly nasty website…. with biased media …
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is for the Wright case? I thought this was a simple breach of contract case…??
I’ve yet to read the documents – I’ve had a deadline suddenly come up for an old project…The information above seems odd, though. I’ll try to read this when I get a chance.
November 5th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Steel. I moved on to Britney gets her dance on.