Britney’s Dad Awarded Permanent Conservatorship

A Los Angeles court has ruled Jamie Spears as the permanent conservator of daughter Britney Spears’ affairs, also naming him permanent co-conservator of her estate, along with attorney Andrew Wallet. The singer’s court-appointed lawyer Samuel Ingham said in court on Tuesday (October 28), “I’ve met several times with [Britney] and she requested that I not object to the permanent conservatorship.”

Commissioner Reva Goetz stated that the permanent conservatorship was “necessary and appropriate.”

The permanent status doesn’t necessarily mean that the arrangement will remain in place forever, mental health lawyer Terry K. Wasserman told People magazine.

“People shouldn’t read too much into the word ‘permanent’. In many cases, it’s just a formality to avoid having to renew a temporary status over and over again,” he said.

“Ms. Spears can regain control of her life anytime – as long as her doctors feel she’s able to manage her own affairs. But today’s ruling shows that Ms. Spears doesn’t object to her father’s control, that she agrees with it, and most importantly, that she’s making improvement.”

Britney Unfairly Targeted?

Attorney J. Michael Flanagan has rejected a plea deal and is prepared to go to trial over an incident last August (2007), when Britney Spears hit a parked car and drove away without notifying the owner.

Currently Spears is facing a $150 fine and a year’s probation, however, Flanagan says the star is being unfairly targeted because she is a celebrity and doesn’t deserve a mark on her criminal record.

He states an offer of a $10 fine and a reduction of the charge to an infraction is acceptable and will appeal any conviction should the case go to trial later this month.

Panettiere's Dad Charged With Misdemeanor Battery

Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced that Hayden Panettiere's father Alan has been formally charged with misdemeanor battery, after he allegedly assaulted his wife last month.

Mr. Panettiere is accused of striking Lesley Vogel in the face following a domestic argument at their West Hollywood home on August 11.

The couple released a statement the day after saying, "It was a big misunderstanding. We love each other very much and want everyone to know that the matter was completely blown out of proportion."

If convicted at his arraignment on October 11, Mr. Panettiere faces up to a year in jail.

X-tina's 'Daddy' Drama

Christina Aguilera is being sued by her father! Actually she's being sued by some "nut job" who thinks he's her dad. The man, named Michael Dunlap, is also under the impression that his children include: Corey Feldman, Hayden Panettiere, Vanessa Williams, Hilary Duff and Matthew Broderick.

Isn't it nice to see your tax dollars at work, pushing these valid lawsuits through the court system! In any case, "Crazy McUnstable" is suing Christina for loss of property, loss of earning capacity and damages that include harassment, lies and slander. Isn’t that so like Christina, going around lying about some guy she’s never met and constantly sitting under his window with binoculars, totally bothering him. Seriously Christina, get a job why don’t you!

Mischa Barton Gets 3 Years Probation

Mischa Barton pleaded no contest to a driving under the influence (DUI) charge on Thursday (April 10) following her arrest in December when authorities pulled her over for "straddling two lanes of traffic" and failing to signal while making a turn.

The former star of televison's 'The O.C.', who was also charged with driving without a license and possession of marijuana, was put on three years probation, ordered to take an alcohol education program for three-months and was fined $1,652.

As part of her no contest plea, 22-year-old Barton had the marijuana possession charges dropped.

Her attorney, Anthony Salerno, addressed reporters following the ruling saying, "She understands the gravity of this whole thing and that she made a mistake. But I'm sure she's glad that it is resolved, and she obviously has some work to do."

Barton was not in court for the hearing.

Britney Spears Loses Her Mind, Again?

Britney Spears was in court Friday, and she was not in a good mood.

When a reporter asked Spears, 25, how she felt about the discussions taking place in her custody hearing during a brief courtroom break Friday afternoon, Spears suddenly snapped back, "Eat it, lick it, snort it, fuck it!"

Classy. Is it just me or do you get the impression that not only does she want nothing to do with her kids, but is going out of her way to sabotage any real opportunity.

Britney Loses Custody!

An LA County Superior Court Judge has taken custody away from Britney Spears and ordered today that Kevin Federline. Britney, “Is to retain physical custody of the minor children on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 12:00PM until further order of the court.”sources report:

Judge Gordon had ordered Spears to undergo random drug testing and take parenting classes. Sources say Federline's powerhouse lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, raised the issue that Spears was driving without a valid California driver's license...

Spears took the kids to the drive-thru at Carl's Jr. at 12:02 this afternoon and surrendered the kids to K-Fed's bodyguard three minutes later.

Britney Ordered To Do Drug Tests

Britney Spears has been ordered to take randomized drug tests in order to maintain custody of her children. On top of that she must seek counseling and see a parenting coach, sources claim.

“Based on the evidence presented, the court finds that there is a habitual, frequent, and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol by [Spears],” he wrote in his nine-page ruling. The judge ordered the 25-year-old to undergo random drug testing twice a week - and get a parenting coach.

Kevin Federline didn’t come out of the ruling without a few dings either:

K-Fed and Brit are barred from consuming alcohol or drugs within 12 hours of when they are scheduled to take care of their children, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. They also have to hire a parenting coach to evaluate them and report back to the court, and they must enroll in a Parenting Without Conflict program within five days.The battling exes are due back in court Nov. 26.

Britney Gets Served

Model mama Brit-Brit's drama has now spread to her assistant/cousin Alli Sims!

Britney's cousin Alli Sims was served with papers by Kevin Federline's lawyer in the dead of night.

Why does K-Fed want to talk to Alli? It seems he and his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan want to grill her about Britney's lifestyle and parenting skills - including how much she boozes it up in front of the kids.

Alli was reportedly super steamed by the "serving." Court's in session, y'all!

Richie Gets 4 Days Jail!

Nicole Richie just got 4 days in the clink for her second DUI conviction.

She pleaded guilty as expected and was also fined $2048, and ordered back to school for 21 days to an alcohol education course. She must start serving her time by September 28th.

Nicole is also due to give birth to her first child sometime in January, which is quite funny considering she most probably fell pregnant to avoid a lengthy jail sentence.

So now I guess she got pregnant for nothing.

Breaking News: Paris Ordered Back To Jail!!

Paris Hilton was just ordered back to jail in Lynwood to serve out the remainder of her sentence! She'll get credit for at least 5 days already served.

Hilton left the courtroom in tears, screaming, "Mom, Mom, Mom."

One witness described the scene as: Paris was "physically escorted" out of the courtroom by a female deputy.

Hilton's mother was later seen pacing the hallways, telling reporters, "I'm paralyzed right now." Paris' father Rick is still in the courtroom.

A Sheriff inside the courtroom tells TMZ that officers are taking Hilton straight from the courtroom to Lynwood. No timetable has been set on her departure

Lohan Sued By Photographer

New York photographer Giovanni Arnold has sued Lohan and her mom Dina Thursday in New York State Supreme Court, apparently still steaming from their allegedly literal run-in on Mar. 13 outside of a Manhattan hotel.

The paparazzo alleges that the ladies were "negligent, careless and reckless" when Lohan hit him with her BMW while motoring away from him and his fellow shutterbugs after they had trailed her to the Hotel Gansevort in Soho from the nighttime hotspot Butter.

According to Arnold's complaint, the Mean Girls star's actions left him with "sustained severe and permanent personal injuries" that resulted in economic losses. Arnold is seeking unspecified damages to compensate for his recently acquired inability to chase after celebs. Dina Lohan owns the Beemer, hence her inclusion in the lawsuit.

Lohan, 20, told the New York Post in March that, while trying to drive her way through the usual gaggle of paparazzi, an overzealous member of the pack jumped on the hood of her car and Arnold, who was standing nearby, was accidentally knocked down in the process.

Witness accounts had Lohan jumping out of the car to check on him and then talking briefly to a police officer, who allowed her to leave the scene—which she did, in her bodyguard's SUV. She returned to the hotel about an hour later.

Arnold's agency told the Post that he was treated for a bruised knee at a nearby hospital.

It just so happens that, during an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman Wednesday, Lohan's interview featured a series of true-or-false questions that included one about whether she once drove over a paparazzo's foot.

"I should have," Lohan joked, denying that she actually did. "The guy completely faked it. Amazing."

Lohan has been on the publicity trail all week promoting her latest film, Georgia Rule, which opens today. Last night, she put in an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, telling the host that she and her friends were planning a big Las Vegas shindig for her 21st birthday next month, and today she helped whip up some profiteroles on The Martha Stewart Show.

Paris Is Going To Jail!

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in L.A. County jail for violating her probation in a reckless driving case. Judge Michael T. Sauer handed down the harsh sentence, telling Paris she will not be allowed work release, furloughs, use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail. She must do the time!

An emotional Paris, with tears welling up in her eyes, told the judge moments before the decision "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Witnesses inside the courtroom say that Paris' parent, Rick and Kathy Hilton, were both visibly upset as the sentence was handed down. Kathy, we're told, was especially distraught.

Paris will serve her sentence at the Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF). She will begin her sentence on June 5.

Miss America Won't Testify

An undercover sex sting that used Miss America as bait may be in trouble after the beauty queen told prosecutors that she does not plan to testify against the men she helped arrest.

Lauren Nelson, 20, of Lawton, Okla., worked with police in Suffolk County to target would-be Internet sexual predators, taped for an episode of the TV show "America's Most Wanted."

She posed as a teenager and lured men into chatting online and meeting her at a home, where police and crews were waiting. Eleven men were arrested in the sting.

But one or all of the cases against the men could be in jeopardy after Nelson told prosecutors she did not plan on returning to Long Island to testify, said Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota in Newsday's Tuesday edition.

"Her agents have told us that she's not coming back to testify," Spota said. The Miss America Organization did not return calls for comment Monday from a Newsday reporter.

Given that Nelson actually spoke with at least one of the men arrested during the operation, Spota said he had instructed prosecutors not to present any more cases to the grand jury until they can "determine her involvement." One case already presented may falter, he said.

Attorney Michael Brown, who represents one of the 11 men swept up in the sting, said he had the right to cross-examine the beauty queen if she contends that she spoke with his client.

"You've now made Miss America a witness," he said.

Lara Bingle Proceeds With Zoo Lawsuit

Sydney model Lara Bingle will proceed with her lawsuit against Zoo Weekly for publishing shots of her in a bikini, even though she appeared nude in Germany's GQ magazine.


Her manager Priscilla Leighton-Clark, the owner of Priscilla Model Management in Potts Point, said the nude pictures, taken when she was 17, are a separate issue to the court case against Zoo Weekly.

She said the sale of the nude photos was a betrayal of trust.

"This is a case where the photographer has again sold a picture without the model's consent. That's the issue here," she said.

"Lara did a test with a photographer. He lulled the family into a false sense of security," Leighton-Clark said.

The photographer Gavin O'Neill could not be reached for comment.

"She thought that he was a friend, that he's a good photographer and that he was going to take these beautiful shots. He has sold them knowing it goes completely against her wishes."

Leighton-Clark said "test shots" are common place in the industry, where models and photographers build a rapport to see if they can work together.

The pictures are then blown up and put in the model's and photographer's portfolios, if they like them.

She said the photographer consults the agent if a magazine wishes to buy the shots, and in this case, that didn't happen.

"When a girl gets famous in this fickle world of fame, then the photographer goes right ahead and sells pictures and the smuttier the pictures, the better," she said.

"He's cashing in. He has betrayed Lara and her family.

"I believe O'Neill seriously pushed the boundaries. Lara was very young, though she was older than 16."

Lara Bingle is in London for the Dancing on Ice show and is apparently "devastated" about yesterday's ferry crash. She had trained at the Cantebury ice skating rink.

"Lara Bingle is a very lovely person," Leighton-Clark said. "Lara has the full and continued support of her agency and of course, her family."

Bingle, who plugged Australia in the "Where the bloody hell are you?" tourism campaign is suing Zoo Weekly for defamation, misleading conduct and breach of copyright after it used photographs of her in a bikini on a beach after she turned down their requests for a nude shoot.

Bingle claims the spread defamed her by implying she consented to pose in a G-string bikini for a smutty men's magazine, was the sort of model who would invite readers to achieve sexual pleasure from her photographs; and was prepared to demean herself for money by being photographed scantily clad for a smutty men's magazine.

She also claims Zoo engaged in misleading conduct by representing she had posed topless for the magazine and had said, "I'll make you come", words contained in a speech bubble on one of the photographs.

In response, the magazine's publisher, Emap Australia, said: "Emap rejects completely the allegations made by Lara Bingle and will defend this claim with the utmost vigour."