Britney Spears' father could be in for a 'world of legal pain'
Britney Spears' father has officially been suspended from her conservatorship after 13 years. Could he now be facing a "world of legal pain"?
Legal analyst Lisa Green suggested as much Thursday after a judge officially granted the pop star's request to suspend her father, Jamie Spears, as conservator of her estate. The conservatorship, which Britney Spears has decried as "abusive," still hasn't ended yet. But the judge temporarily named John Zabel, a certified public accountant, as the new conservator of her estate after the singer's lawyer nominated him for that position.
One major implication of this, Green explained on Today, is that Zabel will have access to key documents pertaining to the conservatorship, which comes as Britney Spears' lawyer has vowed to investigate her father.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"A neutral CPA is now going to have access to all the books and records, every financial decision Jamie made, decisions I'm sure he never thought would be scrutinized," Green said. "That could end up in probate court. In civil court, a potential fraud claim."
All in all, Green said this decision could mean "potentially a world of legal pain for Jamie Spears."
This was seemingly part of the reason Britney Spears' attorney, Matthew Rosengart, urged the judge to suspend Jamie Spears before ending the conservatorship, while Jamie Spears was fighting against his suspension despite calling for the conservatorship itself to be terminated. Rosengart suggested this was because Jamie Spears "knows that when he is suspended he must turn over the conservatorship files," and Rosengart has vowed to conduct a "vigorous investigation into the conduct of Mr. Spears, and others, over the past 13 years."
There's also the matter of the recent allegations in a New York Times documentary that a security firm hired by Jamie Spears secretly monitored Britney Spears, including in her bedroom. "If those eavesdropping allegations are true," Green said on Today, "that's a crime in California."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Why more and more adults are reaching for soft toys
Under The Radar Does the popularity of the Squishmallow show Gen Z are 'scared to grow up'?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published