Photo courtesy of ET Online.
Summary: Britney Spears and Sam Lutfi have finally settled their seven year legal battle.
After fighting for seven-years, Britney Spears has finally settled the defamation lawsuit filed by her ex-manager, Sam Lutfi.
Lutfi, a former paparazzi, said that Spears agreed to let him manage her in 2007, a year that many fans remember as the lowest moment in her career. During this time, she displayed erratic behavior, including shaving her head and giving a disastrous MTV Video Music Awards performance. Media outlets had her on suicide watch, and in 2008, she was put under a conservatorship of her father, who helped the pop singer get back on track.
TMZ reports that the two parties settled Lutfi’s lawsuit last week and that the figure is in the “low six figures” but probably less than $500,000.
In 2009, Lutfi filed the lawsuit against Spears and her parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears. He said they blamed him for her public meltdown and that they badmouthed him. Lutfi said that he was not to blame, her drug use was; and he said that he had urged her to stop.
Spears’ parents alleged that Lutfi had given Spears drugs to control her, and in 2008, Jamie Spears asked for a restraining order against Lutfi. In the restraining order request, Spears’ parents detailed how Lutfi allegedly abused her, which included cutting off contact with her family and friends and telling her she didn’t deserve her kids. The Spears family was granted the order, and Lutfi was not allowed within 250 yards of the pop star.
Lutfi said Lynne Spears made up stories about him, and he claimed Jamie Spears once punched him.
In 2012, a judge dismissed Lutfi’s claims, but Lutfi appealed and a new trial was set for October of this year. However, instead of continuing this almost decade-long fight, Spears’ camp agreed to settle.
Spears currently has a popular residence in Las Vegas and has released new music.
Source: TMZ