Judge Wants Britney Spears and Jamie Spears To Reach A Settlement Over Conservatorship Fees
By Kristin Myers on January 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM EST
Updated on January 30, 2024 at 6:25 AM EST
From February 2008 to November 2021, pop star Britney Spears was subjected to a court-ordered conservatorship. During most of that time, her father, Jamie Spears, was largely in control of her personal and financial affairs.
Even though her controversial 13-year conservatorship was struck down by a judge in November 2021, the case continues to play out in court over fees related to the conservatorship.
Britney Spears Conservatorship Judge Wants Her and Jamie Spears To 'Reach A Global Settlement'
According to court documents obtained by The Blast on January 29, 2024, Honorable Judge Ana Maria Luna issued an order for compliance moving forward in the case between Britney Spears and her estranged father, although neither party made an appearance in court.
As stated in the legal filing, "The court having (i) received a courtesy copy of a Motion for Summary Judgment filed by counsel for Mr. Spears (motion set for hearing on April 12, 2024; and (ii) conferred on January 6, 20, 24 and 28, 2024 with Judge Roy Paul (Ret.) who is the court-appointed discovery referee (CCP Section 639 reference) now makes the following orders."
The first order of business from the court was setting an "Order to Show Cause as to Why All Discovery, Discovery Motions (pending and/or contemplated) and/or Briefing on the Motion for Summary Judgment Should not be Stayed Pending Completion of Mediation for February 2, 2024, at 1:30 p.m."
The issue of Jamie Spears' attorney fees, which was filed on December 15, 2021, has been referred to Judge Roy Paul for mediation. "It is the intent of the court that the parties reach a global settlement as to all conservator and/or attorney fee petitions filed on behalf of Jamie Spears," the court papers read.
Britney Spears' lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, was ordered to arrange the retrieval of binders with its ruling on the Report and Recommendations issued by the Referee on October 27, 2023, by no later than February 2, 2024. The redacted documents are then required to be delivered to Jamie Spears' legal team by February 12, 2024. The court documents go on to say that, "A redacted copy of the Report and Recommendations issued by the Referee on October 27, 2023 will be emailed by the court to counsel for Mr. Spears and Ms. Spears."
Mediation Is Currently Scheduled For The Beginning Of February
No later than February 2, 2024, "all counsel participating in the court-ordered mediation process are to meet and confer so as to advise the mediator as to those parties who are necessary to a meaningful mediation."
By February 10, 2024, Attorney Alex Weingarten "shall file and serve a supplement to any fee petition upon which Jamie Spears is seeking payment from the conservatorship estate for attorneys fees incurred by Willkie, Farr and Gallagher LLP in which the total amount of fees sought to be paid by the conservatorship estate is brought current to January 31, 2024. This supplement is to be submitted without any billing invoices. The court will make further orders, if necessary," in accordance with established precedent.
On January 5, 2024, both parties had been advised that they must appear at mediation, which is currently scheduled for February 22, 2024. According to this new legal filing, the court further orders that "those persons who prepared the accounting (CPA, etc.) or who are now assisting/advising Ms. Spears as to the management of her financial holdings/accounts (CPA, business manager, financial advisor, etc.) participate in the mediation as requested by the mediator."
The Post-Mediation Status Conference has been advanced from April 5, 2024, and reset to March 1, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Long Beach, California. Judge Luna and the probate long cause calendar have been relocated to this courtroom as of February 5, 2024, so all future hearings in this matter will be heard in the Deukmejian/Long Beach courthouse.
The Court ordered the Clerk to give notice to both parties via e-mail. Neither Britney Spears nor her father has given public comment about the conservatorship hearings still going on. Britney is involved in another financial war with her ex-husband, actor Sam Asghari, as the two continue to navigate their divorce, while Jamie Spears continues to navigate various health scares. In late 2023, doctors amputated his leg following multiple infections in his knee; however, it was not enough for the father and daughter to reconcile, as sources say that Britney Spears has not actually seen her father since the conservatorship ended.
