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Britney Spears - Source: Reuters -
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The former self-styled manager of Britney Spears is suing the
pop star and her parents, accusing them of slander and failing to
pay his fees.
Sam Lutfi, Spears' constant companion in late 2007 at the height of
her personal and professional meltdown, filed the lawsuit in Los
Angeles Superior Court after a renewed flurry of legal moves
against him.
His lawsuit names Britney Spears, her father and mother Jamie and
Lynne Spears, and alleges libel, defamation, battery, intentional
infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract.
Lufti claimed Jamie Spears punched him in the chest in January 2008
and says Lynne Spears damaged his reputation in her 2008 memoir
"Through The Storm," in which she claimed Lutfi had over-medicated
her daughter.
He is seeking unspecified damages.
The lawsuit was filed four days after Jamie Spears obtained a
restraining order against Lutfi and Spears' former boyfriend,
photographer Adnan Ghalib, ordering them to stay away from the
singer and her family.
Britney Spears' spokeswoman was not available to comment.
The legal sparring followed months of relative peace on the Spears
front after a year of bizarre behavior including Britney shaving
her head and bouncing in and out of rehab.
Spears, 27, has since staged a comeback with a new album in
December and a US and British tour due to start in March.
Jamie Spears was granted temporary control of his daughter's
personal affairs in February 2008. He obtained a restraining order
against Lutfi but later dropped it when Lutfi agreed to voluntarily
keep his distance.
Last week lawyers argued that Lutfi and Ghalib had tried to
disrupt the agreement and a new order was granted.