After more than a decade under a strict conservatorship, pop star Britney Spears regained the ability to execute documents for herself Wednesday when Judge Brenda Penny granted her the power.
"Ms. Spears, as an independent woman, not under conservatorship,” should be free to sign documents, the singer’s attorney Mathew Rosengart told Penny during an appearance at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse on behalf of his client, NBC News reported. Once outside the courthouse, Rosengart confirmed that Spears now “has the power to do whatever she wants to do.”
Spears was involved in several highly publicized incidents in 2008, including the time when paparazzi followed the star to photograph her shaving her own head. Around that time her father, Jamie Spears, had her placed under a conservatorship that restricted her rights.
For years, her fans had been critical of the arrangement and expressed their concerns through the #FreeBritney movement. In June, Spears testified against her father and the conservatorship.
She told the court she is a victim of “conservatorship abuse,” and alleged that her father and her former business management company – TriStar Sports and Entertainment – was running a surveillance operation in the pop star’s own home among other claims. Her father has denied the allegations.
By Nov. 12, Penny had terminated the conservatorship agreement and ruled that it was no longer necessary after more than 13 years. Although it has been fully terminated, accountant John Zabel was given power of execution of the estate trust and power to transfer assets into the trust at a hearing last month.
Zabel will continue his limited, administrative powers until Jan. 19, the date of the next hearing.
In addition to accounting matters, a petition for substituted judgement is expected to be discussed at next month’s hearing. That petition will remain under seal for privacy-related reasons.
Jamie Spears appeared remotely by phone Wednesday and his attorney, Alex Weingarten, was present in the courtroom for the hearing. While Weingarten asked the judge for Jamie Spears to have the right to access the estate plan, an attorney for Zabel objected.
“In a normal situation, a normal person would never have to show their estate plan,” they said.
Rosengart’s legal strategy for Spears’ case included measures to ensure that her father would be required to turn over legal documents in an effort to hold him accountable for his alleged conduct. As of Wednesday, Rosengart said Jamie Spears has failed to cooperate with some document requests.
Compared to previous hearings, NBC News said the Wednesday court date was quiet. However, some commotion in the courtroom led Jamie Spears’ attorney to say “I propose that we behave like grown-ups,” at one point.
Though there are still matters to address regarding the case, Rosengart said his client is “delighted.”
“I think she’s commented publicly through her Instagram posts what her state of mind is. She’s delighted,” said Rosengart of his client. “We had a great victory on Nov. 12. She’s a free woman after 13 years of an abusive conservatorship that we believe was corrupted, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Related
Related
