- Though her conservatorship is over,
Britney Spears is still battling her dad in legal filings. - In new paperwork, Britney's lawyer says
Jamie Spears is "stonewalling" requests for his deposition.
Britney Spears' legal battle with her father, Jamie, is continuing in the Los Angeles courts with new filings centered on Jamie's refusal to sit down for a deposition. Though Britney fought for her freedom from an "abusive" conservatorship and won, the fight has now turned to the finances of her estate and when/how her money has been spent over the last 13 years.
Britney's lawyer Mathew Rosengart, in new filing on Wednesday on behalf of the pop star, requested a motion to "compel deposition of James P. Spears" at an upcoming hearing scheduled for July 13.
In the 20-page document, Rosengart accuses Jamie of not appearing for scheduled depositions, nor has he volunteered any available dates when he will speak under oath.
Rosengart wants the court to compel Jamie Spears to answer 'basic' questions about how Britney's money was spent
According to the paperwork, Jamie failed to appear for depositions scheduled for October 20, 2021, November 10, 2021, and as recently as April 6, 2022.
"Mr. Spears has engaged in stonewalling and obstruction — for over six months — dodging his deposition and repeatedly failing to respond to simple requests for basic information," Rosengart wrote.
That basic information includes the following two questions, according to the filing:
- "What were the total fees obtained or received by James Spears (or any entity in which he had any interest) from Britney Spears or the Estate?"
- "What were the total fees obtained or received by Tri Star Sports &
Entertainment (or any of its affiliates) from Britney Spears or the Estate?"
For more on the finances surrounding Britney's estate, read our report here on the main people who were paid by the singer's estate during the conservatorship.
A representative for Jamie Spears did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Rosengart says Jamie is 'seeking to take his daughter's deposition,' despite the refusal to sit for his own questioning
In the months since Britney's conservatorship was ended, Rosengart says her father has been serving her with "document requests" and also requesting to carry out the singer's deposition himself.
"Even worse, despite the prior trauma Ms. Spears has endured, Mr. Spears is now seeking to take his daughter's deposition (his own daughter's deposition), even as he hides from answering essential deposition questions," the filing says, with a bold and italicized emphasis made by Rosengart's team.
The filing calls out Jamie and his legal team for holding out a response on eight different potential dates for the deposition and suggesting that he, Jamie, would sit for deposition as long as Britney did too.
"Most recently, in an effort to resolve the issue, by email dated May 2, 2022, Mr. Spears was offered no less than eight dates from which he could to appear: June 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, or 16," Rosengart wrote (emphasis his). "Mr. Spears failed to select any of these eight dates; nor did he offer any other dates or any justification for his stonewalling. Instead, he in effect sought an improper quid pro quo, seeking to barter his deposition for his daughter's."
Britney Spears' lawyer says Jamie Spears is trying to 'traumatize and bully his own daughter' with continued legal requests
Rosengart's filing continues into another main point: The accusation that Jamie is using "improper and abusive" legal strategies against his daughter while stonewalling the financial investigation.
"Mr. Spears has purported to serve on his daughter 145 document requests and more than 75 other discovery requests," the filing said (emphasis Rosengart's). "This is improper and abusive. Sadly, these tactics represent an effort (indeed, a grotesque and diabolical "strategy") to traumatize and bully his daughter — his own daughter — all in the hopes of intimidating and causing her distress."
The filing continued into a final plea:
"For Mr. Spears to contend that he will answer for his actions if (and only if) his daughter's personal, private life is further exposed demonstrates just how misguided he is as a fiduciary and as a father. Enough is enough. Britney Spears will tolerate it no longer, and with respect, neither should this Court.
Finally, we once again ask and implore, in all sincerity, that Mr. Spears and his counsel do what is right, voluntarily. Be decent. Please, stop harassing and bullying your daughter. Please, leave your daughter alone."
The next scheduled hearing in the case is currently scheduled for July 13, 2022, in Los Angeles. Attorneys for Britney and Jamie Spears did not immediately respond to a request for comment.