In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Today's News: Our Take
Britney's Dad Retains Control; She Lacks Full Comprehension of Legalities
Britney Spears by Toby Canham/Getty Images
Britney Spears' ongoing struggle with her health continues to evolve as legal matters are attended to and the presiding commissioner has laid down the law:
• At a Monday hearing to discuss the management of Spears' financial affairs during her treatment, her father's temporary co-control with lawyer Andrew Wallet was extended to Feb. 14.
In addition, the court's commissioner dismissed Andrew Streisand from representing Britney and appointed a doctor to evaluate the star's ability to make decisions. Streisand said he was appearing as Brit's counsel, and asserted that Jamie Spears was only causing her agitation.
Further, the commish barred Brit from any contact with Sam Lutfi (including text messages!) and extended the restraining order that she had established on Friday.
A court-appointed lawyer, meanwhile, spoke on Spears' behalf. He asserted that she "lacks the capacity to retain counsel" and that she "does not understand the nature of these proceedings."
• Lawyers also arrived in court Monday for another custody hearing, but it was postponed until Feb. 19. The session was set up to discuss the possibility of Spears being allowed monitored visitation of her children, which would let her see them in a more "therapeutic setting."
• On Sunday, a source told People that Britney's initial 72-hour hospital stay has been extended to 14 days.
• Spears' father Jamie and lawyer Andrew Wallet were given legal authority over her estate on Friday, as well as temporary authority over her finances.— Anna Dimond
Watch TV Guide Network's Hollywood 411 (weeknights at 9 pm/ET) for more updates on Britney Spears.
Related:
• Britney's Dad Granted Control, Lutfi Kicked to Curb
• Britney Hospitalized for Medical Evaluation, "Greatly Disabled"
• Watch video: Britney's police escort to UCLA Medical Center
• Manager Says Britney's Mental Problems Are Treatable
• Britney Update: Visitation Still Denied
• Report: Britney's Father Tried to Commit Her
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Feb 4, 2008 4:07 PM
|
|
Why does the headline say that Britney is "STUCK" in the hospital? Haven't the powers that be been clamoring for her to get some HELP already? Isn't her seeking treatment a GOOD thing? Saying she is 'STUCK' kind of implies that she's some kind of prisoner being held against her wishes. People get "Stuck" on the highway during snowstorms or "Stuck" at the airport with cancelled flights. They don't get stuck in mental hospitals when they are a danger to themselves!
|
|
Feb 4, 2008 5:41 PM
|
I am glad she is in the hospital.. the poor thing needs serious help.
No a question about her father.. he has complete control over her affairs and finances??? We don't hear much about him..so I don't know what he is like but good thing they didn't award that to her mother!!
|
|
Feb 4, 2008 6:06 PM
|
|
I don't get how you can have control over welfare and money but not over treatment. What do they plan on spending the money on? Are they gonna manage her stock portfolio or something? Can they affect treatment based on what they're willing to pay for?
|
|
Feb 4, 2008 6:08 PM
|
I don't get how you can have control over welfare and money but not over treatment. What do they plan on spending the money on? Are they gonna manage her stock portfolio or something? Can they affect treatment based on what they're willing to pay for?
Her father was appointed this task NOT to spend money, but to protect her assets. I bet eventually a bank will also be in charge of her assets along with her Dad, with him having to give an accounting of where every penny goes. It may be like that right now, too. It's not as it sounds - like he's going to go and be spending her money!! It has to be accounted for. Please, with the likes of that alleged manager of hers and her papparazi boyfriend, someone has to look after her assets and at this time, who better than her own father.
|
|
Feb 4, 2008 7:18 PM
|
|
Forgot to mention, and this is basically it in a nutshell - no one can have any say over her treatment other than her and her doctor, as long as she understands why she's taking the meds and what they will do. It sounds kidn of weird actually - she's not well enough to handle her affairs but well enough to decide on what type of medical treatment that is ncessary. That's California for you !!!!
|
|
Feb 4, 2008 7:21 PM
|
|
I also glad that the hospital decided to extend her stay.....she needs it. And I also think that Britney should concentrate on getting herself better, instead of trying to see her kids right now. Her young boys don't need to see her like the state she is in...even if it is monitored by the court. Her boys are already traumatized by their last visit.
|
|
Feb 4, 2008 8:30 PM
|
Thanks Tootsie2, that makes sense. Sort of  I agree that part about being able to make some decisions and not others really confused me. I figured it was out of her control or it wasn't. So strange that that's how they divide up decisions. As long as they keep her from playing rehab ping pong like some celebs. I hope her sons are doing ok. Those last magazine photos she took with them showed two little boys that, I swear, looked like Hummel figurines. I mean is it just me? They're straight out of Precious Moments, esp. Sean Preston.
|
|
Feb 5, 2008 12:36 AM
|
Reading the CNN coverage (sorry Anna and Matt), it seems that Britney is being held against her will.
There is some statue in California, as in most states, that allows a person to be kept for treatment, against their will, if they are a danger to themselves or others. It sounds like during the 72 hour eval that they made the decision she needed to be treated, and the state/court/hosiptal is now in charge of her care.
Meanwhile, Brit's lawyer Streisand argued that if they had notice that Ingram (the court appointed lawyer) intended to interview her, she would of done better.
Doesn't that just strike you as more insanity?
|
|
Feb 5, 2008 8:32 AM
|
|
I still say that she is better off right now, at this moment, than she has been since she filed for divorce. This is what her parents have needed to do for her before she ended up dead. I'm glad for her, I know this will help get her life back together and get them boys back the mother they deserve. You can do this Britney!
|
|
Feb 5, 2008 10:23 AM
|
|
The comment that says the most about people around her is the one by the lawyer who wanted to represent her. He complained that the court appointed evaluation happened without prior notice. Of course it did, that is how to best evaluate someone, without time to prepare a story. Her father will have to account for all the money, so there will be little chance of him taking it. I just hope she is getting the help she needs.
|
|
Feb 5, 2008 10:38 AM
|
|
I've been saying it for weeks and I still think TV Guide needs it's own separate Britney news section. Either that or change your name from TV Guide to Britney Guide.
|
|
Feb 5, 2008 11:52 AM
|
Ummm....even when she was sane I doubt she understood the legalities of anything.
She was never, by any stretch, a sharp girl.
|
|
Feb 5, 2008 11:55 AM
|
|
|
