Britney Spears Conservatorship Contested In Hearing

A hearing over the conservatorship of Britney Spears began Monday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles.

Spears, whose stay in the psych ward at the UCLA Medical Center was extended over the weekend for an additional 14 days (beyond her initial 72-hour hold), is being represented by Adam Streisand from the firm Loeb & Loeb.

Streisand told the court he is representing the pop star under direct orders from Spears herself. He has asked Court Commissioner Reva Goetz, who is sitting on the bench, to make Northern Trust Bank Spears’ conservator instead of her father, Jamie Spears, and his co-conservator, attorney Andrew Wallett.

Streisand, a distant cousin of singing star Barbara Streisand, claims Spears has said she has been estranged from her father for some time and she does not want him to take on this role.

The commissioner, however, is taking into consideration whether Spears presently has the mental capacity to hire an attorney.

As for Jamie Spears, three attorneys from Blair Berk’s office represent the pop singer’s father.

“Mr. Spears is here because his daughter is in great distress. He is not for her money,” one of his lawyers said as the hearing began.

Wallet has also addressed the court, expressing anger that the people who have been speaking to Britney are doing so without the proper authority, and not going through the conservators.

He is also upset that Sam Lutfi, Britney Spears’ self-professed “manager,” refused to open the door when they attempted to serve him notice of Friday’s restraining order, barring him from seeing or communicating with the pop singer.

Lutfi continues to communicate with Spears on the phone, it was revealed during the afternoon session.

During Monday’s testimony, Britney Spears’ business manager, Howard Grossman, also testified. He informed the court that Spears has $40 million in assets.

Also present at the hearing are attorneys Anne Kiley and Tara Scott from Trope & Trope, who have been representing Spears in her custody case with Kevin Federline. However, they appear to have no official role in today’s proceedings.

They have reportedly attempted to contact the singer all weekend, but Wallet stressed they need to go through the conservators to reach her and not do so directly.

At least one decision was made today — Commissioner Goetz ordered that Spears’ medical and financial records be sealed under HEPA guidelines.

The hearing is continuing, but the courtroom was cleared of parties not directly related to the case when an evaluator was called to the stand to testify about the pop singer’s current condition.