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)Others cases suggest the wait may never end.
I dont think a reasonable judge would let her off a conservatorship without her doing that.
He very well could have informed her.
Its a problem for him that shes saying in open court that he never told me.
There is no question now that Britney asked the court to end the conservatorship.
What would be the courts next step?Just asking for it is not good enough.
She needs to bring a full petition to dissolve the conservatorship and file it with the court.
If she asks her lawyer to do it, he has an obligation to do it.
Then the court appointed Ingham.
The question becomes, is she well enough to enter into a contract and to sign a retainer?
Is she well enough to have an attorney-client relationship where that attorney is not taking advantage of her?
So they clearly appear to feel that she has the capacity to enter into legal binding agreements?Correct.
Im sure she can make the point that she has signed probably dozens of legal agreements.
[Its likely] she signed one of those sobriety contracts that they often give celebrities.
[Its likely] that she signed insurance contracts for the tour.
Ingham doesnt need to be off the case; he can participate as her co-counsel.
In fact, the facility she referenced,Bridges, is one thats really familiar here in L.A.
Though the conservatorship clearly exerts a lot of power over Britney.
I dont think she was physically forced, but I certainly think she was coerced.
She doesnt drive and she cant get in her boyfriends car, apparently.
Someone might need to pick her up.
Shes depending on her conservator for, for all we know, access to food delivery.
She referenced her maids; having household staff is something that can be taken away from her.
She said they took away her passport, her credit cards, etc.
Is that legal?Yes, it is legal to give incentives.
What [would] be illegal is to force her into something.
Which cannot happen.
Essentially, she is being treated like a minor.
But dont forget, shes not you or me.
Shes Britney Spears, so she can never leave any secure or safe place by just walking out.
She can never do that.
I mean, everybody has a camera and a cell phone now, and it would just be impossible.
Thats a sort of freedom that is not available to Britney Spears.
She spoke about wanting to have kids, but being prevented by the conservatorship.
Drugs that are prescribed for illness could cause serious side effects and birth defects in fetuses.
Its what she was told: This is what you gotta do.
These are the rules.
And she knows that theres consequences to that so she has no choice.
She said in court that she wanted to sue her family for what they have done to her.
Is that possible?I dont think so.
Her medical team, repeatedly over the course of a year, submits declarations on her mental capacity.
So all of that is documented.
Who are her psychiatrists?
What are her medications?
All of that needs to be submitted to the court.
Its one more buffer against abuse or of being taken advantage of by someone.
And Britney spoke up and said she wanted to be involved in the plan.Yes, she should be involved.
I heard that and I just thought,Wow, thats how she must have felt about him.
Your therapist is your most trusted person, arguably in your life.
[Think of] how much you must hate someone to be thankful that theyre dead.
If shes having feelings like that, shes not getting better in therapy.
If thats how she feels about her therapist, then [her] therapy is wasted therapy.
There was desperation in her voice.
She mentioned she has to do this three times a week.
Just the anxiety that it must produce in her is counterintuitive to therapy.
She has enough money to have the therapist, as she requested, come to her [home].
She needs things to change.
I dont think he can justify continuing on this thing.
And when no one else stepped up in 2008, he stepped up in 2008.
Thats all weve heard from [him and his lawyer].
Now, its 2021.
Why is he still there if his being there is [negatively] affecting her so much?
And its not like hes doing it for free; he is costing her money as well.
And he doesnt have any kind of financial knowledge or specialty.
The other financial professionals are bonded and have insurance.
Thats what his client saidshe wanted.I dont think that Ingham wants to bring a losing motion.
to get to end the petition, you will have to hold essentially a mini-trial.
You have to present evidence and show a changed circumstance.
She spoke from the heart, but the judges are going to be looking for methodical, rational behavior.
And remember, we dont know what we dont know.
So why put on that show if shes not going to win in the end?
The problem is who gets that?
Who pays for that and who arranges for that?
She cant even get in the car with her boyfriend.
Thats how tight they have her.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
