Britney's father given power to sack business manager

A Superior Court commissioner has given Britney Spears’ father the power to fire the troubled singer’s business manager, according to documents released today.

Commissioner Reva Goetz also ordered Howard Grossman to turn over “all documents, records and assets relating to Britney Spears” to James Spears, who has court-appointed conservatorship – power of attorney – over his 26-year-old daughter and her estate.

The order came the day after Ms Goetz held an emergency closed-door hearing on a motion brought by Mr Spears and her lawyer Andrew Wallet, who is part of the conservatorship.

Mr Grossman turned up at the hearing, but he and others were ordered to leave the courtroom.

Mr Grossman would not say if he had been sacked or how long he had worked for Spears.

“My reputation speaks for itself,” he said, declining to comment further on the order because it would be speculative.

Meanwhile, lawyers who have represented Spears in her child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline filed papers to withdraw from that case.

Sorrell Trope filed papers in Los Angeles Superior Court asking to quit the case, said court spokeswoman Mary Hearn.

Spears’ parents have moved aggressively to take control of their daughter’s life since she was taken to a hospital psychiatric ward on January 31.

On the same day Mr Spears won conservator status last week, his wife Lynne successfully applied for a restraining order against Sam Lutfi, his daughter’s frequent companion and sometimes manager.

Mrs Spears told the court that Mr Lutfi had treated her daughter like a hostage in her own home, drugged her and took over her finances.

“Sam told me, ’You’d better learn that I control everything’,” Mrs Spears wrote in a declaration filed with the court.

“’I control Howard Grossman, Britney’s business manager. I control her attorneys and the security guards at the gate. They don’t listen to Britney, they listen to me’.”

Mr Grossman said yesterday that he had no association with Mr Lutfi.

Spears’ parents went to court on Thursday after saying they feared their daughter’s life was at risk after she was released from hospital on Wednesday.

Her affairs were placed under a temporary conservatorship after she was taken to UCLA Medical Centre on January 31 under heavy police escort. It was the second time in a month she had been taken from her home by ambulance.

Conservatorships are granted for people deemed unable to care for themselves or their affairs. The conservatorship lasts until February 14.

Spears was discharged from the hospital against the recommendation of her psychiatrist and her parents’ wishes.

Her parents said they were extremely disappointed she was released and they were deeply concerned about her “safety and vulnerability and we believe her life is presently at risk”.

Spears slipped out of the hospital unnoticed by the pack of paparazzi that follow her every move in public, but they gave chase later in the day when she left her home behind the wheel of her Mercedes-Benz. She eventually went to the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Spears’ public life has been in a tailspin since she filed for divorce from Mr Federline in late 2006. The swarm of photographers that tail her have captured incidents of bizarre behaviour, erratic driving and public meltdowns.

She has lost custody and visitation rights with her sons, Jayden, one, and Sean, two.

Early last month, Spears was taken to hospital after police were called to her home during a custody dispute.