Britney's former manager sues singer and parents

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears’ former manager and friend Osama “Sam” Lutfi recently filed a libel and defamation lawsuit against the singer and her parents.

Lutfi’s lawsuit came just three days after a judge granted Spears and her parents a restraining order against Lutfi, paparazzo Adnan Ghalib and a lawyer who the Spears family claim tried to regain control of the singer’s life.

The lawsuit, which does not seek a specific amount, provides pages of Lutfi’s version of events, including his claim that he urged the singer to reconcile with her parents and that he was acting in her best interests.

Spears’ family has contended otherwise. Lynne Spears once accused him of grinding pills into her food to control her, a claim he denies in his lawsuit.

Britney has a resurgent career with a new album and tour planned, both of which have occurred since a court granted her father, Jamie, control over the singer’s personal and financial affairs.

Lutfi’s libel and defamation claims heavily cite Lynne’s recent book, Through the Storm, and says it’s filled with “false statements.”

He claims the Spears’ actions have caused him to suffer “humiliation, mental anguish and emotional and physical distress.” Lutfi’s lawsuit also claims he has received death threats and “has been subjected to unfathomable amounts of ridicule and public scorn.”

Lutfi is also seeking unspecified damages based on an oral contract he claims he and Britney forged in 2007. The suit states the agreement called for him to serve as Spear’s manager for four years and receive 15 percent of her earnings. He claims the singer confirmed the contract in a text message.

(Compiled by Jerry Donato)