'We're delighted!' Britney Spears' family celebrate as Sam Lutfi lawsuit is thrown out of court due to 'lack of evidence'
By Hayley Coyle
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Britney Spears' former manager Sam Lutfi's lawsuit against the pop star and her family was thrown out of court on Thursday.
The judge dismissed Lutfi's case after the Spears family lawyers successfully argued that he had failed to prove his cause after six solid days of testimony.
Lutfi was a one time confidante of the pop star and was a constant in her life during her 2008 meltdown. He had sued Britney, 30, for unpaid
fees.
Thrown out: Britney Spears' former manager had his lawsuit against her and her family thrown out by a judge on Wednesday
The 38-year-old also tried to sue her father Jamie for allegedly punching him, and her mother Lynne for purportedly defaming him in her book.
According to People magazine, Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bruguera said, before dismissing the case: 'I really thought long and hard about this.
'It's the right thing to do.'
Following the hearing Jamie's attorney Leon Gladstone said: 'We're delighted, we feel it's the right result.'
Jamie and Lynne delighted: Britney's parents are said to be thrilled at the news and Jamie hugged his lawyers when it was announced Sam Lutfi's case was being dismissed
Lutfi's side rested its case Tuesday, but Judge Bruguera agreed with arguments by attorneys for Spears' father that there wasn't sufficient evidence to send the claims to a jury.
Britney's father, who hugged his legal team, declined to comment on the news.
Lutfi appeared emotionless, then said, 'I'm going to appeal,' after leaving the courtroom.
The case centered on many of Britney Spears' darkest moments, including two psychiatric hospitalisations that led to her father being named her conservator.
Her fiance, Jason Trawick, was added as a co-conservator earlier this year.
The arrangement is overseen by a probate judge who had directed them not to allow the singer to appear at the trial.
Lutfi's attorney Joseph Schleimer had claimed in opening statements that his client was made a scapegoat for Britney's' downfall.
Mr Schleimer argued Britney's mother accused Lutfi of drugging the singer and isolated her from family.
And he added that Lutfi's close relationship with the paparazzi was a way to get them to be less unruly and more respectful of the Grammy winner.
Appeal: Lutfi has vowed to appeal the judge's decision which was made on the grounds that the 38-year-old failed to prove his allegations of breach of contract, assault and defamation
Yet Lutfi failed to show he had a binding management agreement that
would have entitled him to 15 per cent of the singer's profits from her
2007 album Blackout and other projects, the judge ruled.
Joel Boxer, an attorney for Spears' conservators, argued that even if
Lutfi had an agreement to serve as the singer's manager, he obtained it
through 'undue influence'.
Lutfi sued in 2009, the same year that Britney's conservators took out a
restraining order against him to stop him from meddling in the
mother-of-two's affairs or even contacting her.
He told jurors he endured death threats after the publication of
Lynne Spears' book 'Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family
in a Tabloid World' and he claimed the experience left him depressed and
suicidal.
Mr Schleimer argued he was stymied by rulings that denied him access to
sealed court records and Britney's ' medical files, but Judge Bruguera
said the complaints weren't valid.
She said: 'I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that information.'
Britney's parents sat through the entire trial, which opened with Mr Schleimer showing videos and photos of Spears' turbulent period, including shaving her head and hitting a car with an umbrella.
Meanwhile Britney is busy with her new job as a judge on the US X Factor.
Wednesday night was the first live show of reality singing competition and Britney's appearance got mixed reviews.
She was reported to have been wearing ear plugs yet every performance she announced to be 'amazing'.
Banned: Britney was banned from attending the trial but meanwhile appeared as a judge on The X Factor's first live show on Wednesday
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Next up Howard K Stern please !!!!!!!
- commentcauseican , neverland, Åland Islands, 03/11/2012 09:44
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