The Thursday ruling by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny denied James Spears' objections to sharing monetary control over the conservatorship with Bessemer Trust, a financial institution, appointed last year as co-conservator.
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| Photo: Courtesy of Britney Spears | Instagram |
Judge Brenda Penny’s decision to deny Britney’s
father, James Spears, was a rare move that could indicate diminished faith in
James Spears’ fitness for the role as co-conservator, according to experts.
The Thursday ruling by Los Angeles County Superior
Court Judge Brenda Penny denied James Spears' objections to sharing monetary
control over the conservatorship with a financial institution, Bessemer Trust,
appointed last year as co-conservator.
Attorney David Esquibias said, “It appears that the
court lacks some confidence in the father.” Esquibias was the lawyer who
represented actress Amanda Bynes in her 2014 conservatorship case. “There must
be some level of conflict and some lack of confidence in the father’s financial
decision making.”
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| Photo: Courtesy of Britney Spears | Instagram |
Britney Spears who recently made headlines as subject
of the Hulu documentary, “Framing Britney Spears”, which depicts the singer as
a powerless subject of a secretive 2008 conservatorship following what has been
described as a public mental breakdown.
The singer’s father, James Spears, took over as a sole
conservator in 2019 following the exit of attorney Andrew Wallet. Britney Spears
and her friends and fans have all made it clear they mistrust Britney’s father,
and the star has long wanted him removed from the role.
James Spears’ lawyer, Vivian Thoreen, said in a
statement on Thursday that he would work with Bessemer “in the best interests
of his daughter.”
“My client Jamie Spears has diligently and professionally
carried out his duties as one of Britney’s conservators,” Attorney Thoreen said,
“and his love for his daughter and dedication to protecting her is clearly
apparent to the court.”
Attorney Tamar Arminak, a conservatorship lawyer who
worked with Byne’s parents said, “The judge is starting to listen to Britney.”
However, Arminak said, the arrangement indicates that James Spears will continue
to oversee his daughter for some time.
“I think what the court did was not indicative of
removing Jamie at any point in time,” Arminak said. “I think there’s a reason
in place why they’re keeping Jamie Spears as the conservator.
"It could be as simple as oversight and not
overcharging or taking advantage of Britney or it could be long term. Based on
that undisclosed information, there is a clear reason why she (Penny) still
believes it is in Spears’ best interest to have Jamie as a conservator."
Although Thursday’s ruling was not a complete victory
for Britney Spears but signals “the court chipping away at the sole control
that Jamie has enjoyed over Britney and her affairs for the past many, many
years,” said Scott Rahn, a Los Angeles conservatorship, trust and probate
attorney, who was not involved in the Spears’ case.