Los Angeles - A Los Angeles judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit by the one-time confidante of pop star Britney Spears, ruling that there was not enough evidence to go forward with the trial on allegations of defamation, assault and breach of contract.
It is “the right thing to do”, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bruguera said after hearing two weeks of evidence in the civil trial, which has lifted the lid on the singer's controversial career and personal meltdown five years ago.
Sam Lutfi, the self-styled manager of the pop star for a brief period in 2007 and early 2008, had sued Spears' mother, Lynne Spears for defaming him in her 2008 book Through The Storm. In the book, Lynne Spears claimed that Lutfi controlled her daughter, crushed drugs into her food, cut her telephone lines and tried to cut the star off from her family.
Bruguera also dismissed two other lawsuits brought by Lutfi, who claimed he was entitled to a portion of the singer's earnings, asserting that Spears hired him to be her manager.
Lutfi also alleged that Spears' father, Jamie Spears, punched him in 2008 while the singer was in a Los Angeles psychiatric ward.
In testimony last week, Lutfi claimed he had tried to get Spears off drugs, and denied responsibility for her breakdown.
Lutfi, 38, said he would appeal the ruling. - Reuters