New York Times: Britney Spears’s Courtroom Plea Spurs Questions for Her Lawyer

[CoasterFreak18]

Britney Spears’s Courtroom Plea Spurs Questions for Her Lawyer

The singer said she had not known she needed to petition the court to be released from her conservatorship, placing a focus on the court-appointed counsel who has represented her for 13 years.

By Joe Coscarelli, Liz Day and Samantha Stark

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Before Britney Spears broke her public silence on Wednesday regarding the long-running legal arrangement that has controlled her life, calling it abusive in an urgent and emotional speech, the man appointed to represent her in court for the last 13 years said he had no role in what she was about to say.

“These are entirely her words,” said Samuel D. Ingham III, a lawyer for the singer since 2008, when she was deemed incapable by a judge of hiring her own counsel.

At the time, Ms. Spears had been hospitalized for an involuntary psychiatric evaluation amid concerns about her mental health and substance abuse, and her father, James P. Spears, was petitioning in California for a conservatorship over her person and finances that continues to this day.

So when Ms. Spears said this week that, under the arrangement, she had been forced to perform, take debilitating medication and remain on birth control, among other claims, she drew attention to the question of whether Mr. Ingham had done enough to educate and support his client, as the law requires.

“I didn’t know I could petition the conservatorship to be ended,” Ms. Spears, 39, told the judge during a live feed of the hearing. “I’m sorry for my ignorance, but I honestly didn’t know that.” She added, “My attorney says I can’t — it’s not good, I can’t let the public know anything they did to me.”

“He told me I should keep it to myself, really,” the singer said.

Mr. Ingham did not respond to requests to comment Thursday on how his client’s portrayal of him in court corresponded with his own view of his counsel, and it is unknown what discussions the two have had about whether or how Ms. Spears could ask to end the conservatorship. But the dramatic courtroom moment illustrated their frayed relationship, and the inherent conflicts that exist in a conservatorship system in which Ms. Spears has been forced to pay a lawyer she did not choose for herself.

“It’s certainly troubling that this has gone on for so long if she has wanted to end it,” said Rebekah Diller, a professor at the Cardozo School of Law and an expert on guardianships. “It’s hard to know exactly what’s gone on behind closed doors, but in general one would hope she has been told that throughout the years, because it’s a critical right she was entitled to.”

Last year, Mr. Ingham began seeking substantial changes in the conservatorship, including some steps toward Ms. Spears’s requested removal of her father as conservator. And in her remarks, Ms. Spears noted that she and Mr. Ingham had developed a closer relationship of late, speaking about three times per week. Still, Ms. Spears said on Wednesday, she wished to hire her own lawyer.

After Ms. Spears’s remarks, Mr. Ingham said he would step aside if asked, but the current judge in the case, Brenda Penny, did not lay out in detail what the next steps would be to address Ms. Spears’s concerns about the conservatorship or her legal representation.

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Ms. Spears’s supporters gathered outside the Los Angeles courthouse that hosted her hearing on Wednesday. Ms. Spears did not appear in court, but read her remarks over the phone. Credit...Allison Zaucha for The New York Times

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Sarah J. Wentz, a trusts and estate lawyer for Fox Rothschild, said that given what Ms. Spears presented in court, she “can’t even fathom” why Mr. Ingham had not been prompted to file to terminate the conservatorship. “If he knew what she was saying, he should have been prepared,” she said. “If he did what a lawyer is supposed to do, he would have met and found out she wants to terminate.”

A go-to veteran of the California probate system, Mr. Ingham has been selected to work on other complex conservatorship cases, including those of the radio personality Casey Kasem and the media mogul Sumner Redstone, both of whom were old and ailing. In court records, Mr. Ingham calls himself a specialist in probate, estate planning and trust law, areas in which he has practiced for more than 45 years, and he highlights his inclusion on the Super Lawyers of Southern California industry leaders’ list.

For his work with Ms. Spears, Mr. Ingham is paid $475 an hour — a special rate allowed by the court in cases that feature “unusual problems requiring extraordinary expertise.” In 2019, the last year in which full accounting was available, Mr. Ingham made about $373,000 dollars for his work with Ms. Spears, bringing his total since 2008 to near $3 million. Ms. Spears is not known to have questioned Mr. Ingham’s fees.

Court records from over the years provide a sense of Mr. Ingham’s interactions with those in charge of the conservatorship.

At one closed-door hearing in 2014, according to confidential records obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Ingham raised what he said were six points Ms. Spears had asked him to bring up, including her concerns about her father’s drinking, the custody of her children and terminating the conservatorship of her person altogether.

According to the court records, Mr. Ingham noted that Ms. Spears had been “hostile, aggressive, and extremely threatening toward the conservatorship,” especially in the presence of her boyfriend at the time, David Lucado. Mr. Ingham repeatedly mentioned Ms. Spears’s use of expletives while in Mr. Lucado’s presence, including once around her children.

“As an officer of the court, that was very troublesome to me,” Mr. Ingham said, noting that he had informed lawyers for Mr. Spears, who oversaw the singer’s visitation with her two sons, “so he can take whatever steps are necessary to protect the children.”

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Britney Spears’s father, James P. Spears, assumed oversight of his daughter’s life and finances in 2008. In 2019, he stepped down as the conservator of her person, but remains in charge of her estate. Credit...Nick Ut/Associated Press

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When Mr. Ingham mentioned that Ms. Spears believed the conservatorship prevented her from retiring, getting married and having children, the judge at the time, Reva G. Goetz said, “I don’t recall that we made any orders about the right to marry, but you may not want to tell her that.”

Mr. Ingham, according to the transcript, replied, “Somehow that did not come up in the conversation,” before moving on.

Mr. Ingham indicated at that hearing that his contact with Ms. Spears was generally brief. A recent 90-minute meeting they’d had was “at least three times longer than any session I’ve ever had with my client,” he said.

Recently, Mr. Ingham brought on additional lawyers to help with Ms. Spears’s case. He was granted permission to hire litigation specialists; for seven months of work, their fees totaled $237,761.23, with Mr. Ingham noting in court records that he had negotiated a five percent discount for her.

Under the conservatorship, Ms. Spears pays all the legal bills, including those of counsel for the conservators whose control she has criticized as harmful and abusive.

In defending his own billings in March 2021, Mr. Ingham said in court papers that he had “conferred in person and by telephone on a regular basis” with Ms. Spears recently, advising her on a variety of issues including her career, custody concerns, medical treatment and even “the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on her travel and other activities.”

He noted that while his recent billing totaled $154,850, he “voluntarily reduced my fees to $153,782.50.”

At the 2014 hearing, Mr. Ingham said he had encouraged Ms. Spears to appear in court to increase “the likelihood of her getting more specific information” regarding her concerns with the conservatorship, but that “she has elected not to do so.”

In her absence, according to the transcript, he did not push aggressively for answers.

Regarding Ms. Spears’s accusations that her father was acting inappropriately for a conservator, Mr. Ingham and the judge agreed to suggest a preliminary hearing to determine if there was a reason to proceed with a full investigation of the singer’s father, according to court records from 2014.

“That would give me something specific to offer her,” Mr. Ingham said, “that does not have me going out and subpoenaing her butler.”

[Slayer]

Liz, Samantha and co have been amazing!

yes put Ingham on blast and prompt him to do something and apply the pressure!

[Slayer]

More people need to read this! They are coming for Ingham!

[Naes614]

Expletives means cussing right? Cause if so that’s insane. All I heard growing up lol 

[Oxic]

When Mr. Ingham mentioned that Ms. Spears believed the conservatorship prevented her from retiring, getting married and having children, the judge at the time, Reva G. Goetz said, “I don’t recall that we made any orders about the right to marry, but you may not want to tell her that.”

Mr. Ingham, according to the transcript, replied, “Somehow that did not come up in the conversation,” before moving on.

Is this new information? I don't understand what they are talking about. And:

He noted that while his recent billing totaled $154,850, he “voluntarily reduced my fees to $153,782.50.”

That must be a joke, right? 

[Urbanney]

Once again, this is infuriating to read. Thank you NYTimes for exposing more of the corruption and abuse. 

[GirlOnTheMoon]

 

“According to the court records, Mr. Ingham noted that Ms. Spears had been “hostile, aggressive, and extremely threatening toward the conservatorship,” especially in the presence of her boyfriend at the time, David Lucado. Mr. Ingham repeatedly mentioned Ms. Spears’s use of expletives while in Mr. Lucado’s presence, including once around her children.

“As an officer of the court, that was very troublesome to me,” Mr. Ingham said, noting that he had informed lawyers for Mr. Spears, who oversaw the singer’s visitation with her two sons, “so he can take whatever steps are necessary to protect the children.”
 

STUPID USELESS SCUM I HOPE HE BURNS IN HELL

[Applejack]

1 hour ago, CoasterFreak18 said:

When Mr. Ingham mentioned that Ms. Spears believed the conservatorship prevented her from retiring, getting married and having children, the judge at the time, Reva G. Goetz said, “I don’t recall that we made any orders about the right to marry, but you may not want to tell her that.”

classic reva

1 hour ago, CoasterFreak18 said:

“That would give me something specific to offer her,” Mr. Ingham said, “that does not have me going out and subpoenaing her butler.”

admitting he's stalling?

1 hour ago, CoasterFreak18 said:

According to the court records, Mr. Ingham noted that Ms. Spears had been “hostile, aggressive, and extremely threatening toward the conservatorship,” especially in the presence of her boyfriend at the time, David Lucado. Mr. Ingham repeatedly mentioned Ms. Spears’s use of expletives while in Mr. Lucado’s presence, including once around her children.

lmao

[Roger]

Another night without any sleep is upon me I think 

[GirlOnTheMoon]

This FARSE of a lawyer needs to be disbarred and I hope Britney sues and he spends the rest of his life living under a bridge paying every penny he ever stole from her

[oscar0]

 3 millions!!! of course he was never going to present the end of the conservatorship

[PokemonSpears]

[phareezy]

"According to the court records, Mr. Ingham noted that Ms. Spears had been “hostile, aggressive, and extremely threatening toward the conservatorship,” especially in the presence of her boyfriend at the time, David Lucado. Mr. Ingham repeatedly mentioned Ms. Spears’s use of expletives while in Mr. Lucado’s presence, including once around her children."

What is with these old men treating a woman like she's second rate? How dare this woman curse in front of another grown man and her male children! The misogyny is disgusting.

"When Mr. Ingham mentioned that Ms. Spears believed the conservatorship prevented her from retiring, getting married and having children, the judge at the time, Reva G. Goetz said, “I don’t recall that we made any orders about the right to marry, but you may not want to tell her that.”

They need to expose Goetz next. She's a piece of complete ****. They are knowingly keeping information from her.

"He noted that while his recent billing totaled $154,850, he “voluntarily reduced my fees to $153,782.50.”"

Saved her $1,000 there. What a kind man! Now she has extra money for more catsuits and if she's lucky something from Starbucks. **** him.

[Heitorzinho]

So she’s not even allowed to curse? 
MY GOD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!!!!

[Applejack]

That dialog between Reva and Ingham makes me think this was all a set up.

Make Britney believe they were doing something for her

Let Britney in the dark about her situation

1 hour ago, CoasterFreak18 said:

“As an officer of the court, that was very troublesome to me,” Mr. Ingham said, noting that he had informed lawyers for Mr. Spears, who oversaw the singer’s visitation with her two sons, “so he can take whatever steps are necessary to protect the children.”

and I didn't comment but this is so funny to me as Jamie is the one erratic, abusive father that Britney thanked God when he divorced her mother.

[generation glory]

20 minutes ago, GirlOnTheMoon said:

 

 

“According to the court records, Mr. Ingham noted that Ms. Spears had been “hostile, aggressive, and extremely threatening toward the conservatorship,” especially in the presence of her boyfriend at the time, David Lucado. Mr. Ingham repeatedly mentioned Ms. Spears’s use of expletives while in Mr. Lucado’s presence, including once around her children.

“As an officer of the court, that was very troublesome to me,” Mr. Ingham said, noting that he had informed lawyers for Mr. Spears, who oversaw the singer’s visitation with her two sons, “so he can take whatever steps are necessary to protect the children.”
 

STUPID USELESS SCUM I HOPE HE BURNS IN HELL

 

•I hope it’s becoming clear WHY David Lucado had to go. 

•Jamie cussed around his children when they were growing up. I’m sure he still does. Why isn’t his use of expletives considered threatening?

Side note.

David Lucado was framed.

Jamie, Ingham et al, fabricated a story about him cheating on Britney. Maybe even had the bodyguards plant “evidence” that they showed to Britney, so she dumped him. TMZ spun the story the way the conservators instructed, alleging there’s video. Where?

For some people, cussing is not just a sign of being rude but of being bold. They might’ve thought Britney grew bolder and more confident (which to them equals defiance) with a boyfriend around. If she’s bold enough to be assert herself verbally she’ll assert herself legally…. Like yesterday. That’s what Jamie/Team Con fear: being exposed and  losing control of their cash cow.
 

Which is WHY I’m so suspicious of why Sam Asghari has been allowed to stay on as Britney’s bf for nearly 5 years when the other boyfriends all got discarded. Except for Jason Trawick. IMO Jason wanted out once he got enough $$ to satisfy himself (i.e., the X Factor deal). Jason had ZERO INTEREST OR INTENTION of marrying Britney. Too bad she believed he did. They are NEVER going to allow Britney to marry anyone!!

Anyway. The recurring theme here is

Greed.

Power.

Control. 

#FreeBritney

[I love Britney]

I'm sorry but I am starting to lose hope. Why did the judge not put an action plan or anything in place yesterday? These people have tried there best to trap her in this conservatorship and no wonder why she feels like she's been living under a microscope and been mistreated from these so called lawyers, nurses and doctors. my heart aches it really does.  Get this woman a new lawyer NOW.

[GirlOnTheMoon]

2 minutes ago, generation glory said:

•I hope it’s becoming clear WHY David Lucado had to go. 

•Jamie cussed around his children when they were growing up. I’m sure he still does. Why isn’t his use of expletives considered threatening?

Side note.

David Lucado was framed.

Jamie, Ingham et al, fabricated a story about him cheating on Britney. Maybe even had the bodyguards plant “evidence” that they showed to Britney, so she dumped him. TMZ spun the story the way the conservators instructed, alleging there’s video. Where?

For some people, cussing is not just a sign of being rude but of being bold. They might’ve thought Britney grew bolder and more confident (which to them equals defiance) with a boyfriend around. If she’s bold enough to be assert herself verbally she’ll assert herself legally…. Like yesterday. That’s what Jamie/Team Con fear-being exposed and  losing control of their cash cow.
 

Which is why I’m so suspicious of why Sam Asghari has been allowed to stay on a bf for nearly 5 years when the other bf all got discarded. Except Jason, imo he wanted out once he got enough $$ to satisfy himself.

Anyway. The recurring theme here is

Greed.

Power.

Control. 

#FreeBritney

Yeah, there’s no doubt in my mind that David was framed. Not a lot of fans liked him, but in my opinion Britney seemed happy with him…But there were signs Jamie wanted him gone from the start. I always thought it was Jamie calling the paps on them (not David) and then Jamie probably gaslighting Britney telling her David is calling the paps, because Britney was probably getting to close to him and his family.

Also what kind of sick father buys a video of her daughter’s boyfriend having s** with another woman? I think at that point Britney was maybe still in denial and she could have believed his lies…

About Sam - I know a lot of fans don’t like him, I think he’s genuine. I think with time the abuse has increased, therefore they've also had to increase certain freedoms to keep her in line. I think Britney has made tremendous progress with Sam…I think he’s the only boyfriend that doesn’t just accept her situation and deals with it, but he has actively pushed her to belief in herself and fight. I think he has opened her eyes to many things. If in the future turns out they break up or whatever happens, then she can experience that being free. I personally don’t believe he’s fake. I think he has been a blessing tbh…(hopefully looking back I’m not wrong)

[edamamebeans]

they really said they might have to "protect" her children because... she swore around them, once? okayyyy...

i remember her saying in a rolling stone interview that she heard preston swearing and that she tried not to swear around them so he must have gotten it from his father. why didnt they try to "protect" them from kfed then?

[ThisMeowBiteback]

I wonder if LFB OR Meaner going to post this