Brit, K-Fed fight over $1m bill
2008-03-11 10:15
Los Angeles - Attorneys for pop star
Britney Spears and ex-husband Kevin Federline on Monday sparred
over $1m in legal fees in their child custody case as an
official let stand a court order that has denied her custody
and limited visits with their two sons.
Family Court Commissioner Scott Gordon kept in place an
earlier ruling that custody of Jayden James, 1, and Sean
Preston, 2, would remain with Federline.
He also maintained a
previous order that has denied Spears any visitation, even
though in recent weeks Federline has agreed to limited visits
between her and the boys.
"In terms of the visitation rights, they are status quo,"
said court spokesperson Allan Parachini after a periodic hearing
to review the arrangements. "That progression may change but as
of now, no changes ... have been made."
The custody hearing began a daylong series of court
sessions for the 26-year-old Spears who has been hospitalized
twice for psychiatric evaluation since January.
Spears, 26, has seen her life spin out of control since her
breakup with Federline.
'Fees should be slashed'
She has spent time in rehab and in
recent months the Louisiana native has been seen around Los
Angeles wearing pink wigs and talking in a British accent.
In court, Stacy Phillips, the attorney for her father and
conservator Jamie Spears, argued that nearly $1m in
legal fees for both sides have been charged to the singer from
October through January.
She said those fees should be slashed
to between $150 000 and $175 000.
Federline is represented by attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan,
and Spears has been ordered to pay his bills. Kaplan, who earns
$600 an hour, argued that this case was atypical because of
Spears' notoriety and the media attention surrounding her.
He said that in a normal case, attorneys might discuss
which parent would pick up a child after school, but in this
one, details like a court-appointed monitor and bodyguards had
to be discussed.
Paparazzi
Moreover, intricate plans had to be formulated
to deal with the paparazzi that cover Spears night and day.
"If the court views this is a simple custody case, I'm in
trouble," Kaplan said.
Phillips did not dispute that media attention brought
abnormal issues and higher fees to the case, but she said
Federline was paying personal expenses from money that should
be used for lawyers' fees.
As one example, Phillips said Federline's ex-girlfriend,
Shar Jackson, made personal charges on his business credit
card.
In a separate expense on the same business card, she said
Federline gave a $2 000 tip on a $365 restaurant bill.
Following the morning hearing, Parachini said no decision
had been made on reducing the attorneys fees.
In the afternoon, lawyers will discuss a conservatorship
granted to Spears' father, which gave him control over the
singer's personal and business affairs.