On the heels of the resignation of Larry Rudolph, singer Britney Spears’ manager for over 25 years, another major figure in the saga of the embattled pop star has made overtures for his own exit.
Samuel D. Ingham III, Spears’ lawyer since 2008, has filed a request with the court to terminate his association with her.
Ingham submitted documents to the court late July 6, requesting that he leave her employ as soon as possible. TMZ reports that Spears’ statement in court on June 23 left Ingham furious.
In her statement at the time, Spears claimed she didn’t know she could request to end her conservatorship. TMZ further reports that Ingham had, indeed, advised Spears that she could request an end to the conservatorship, though the singer never opted to do so in the past.
Related: Britney Spears says she was “embarrassed” by recent documentary, cried for weeks
Ingham’s request to resign as Spears’ lawyer follows the resignation of Larry Rudolph just one day before. In a statement, Rudolph revealed that he had not spoken to Britney Spears for more than two and a half years. He also revealed that she plans to announce her full retirement, and will no longer require his services.
A Los Angeles court appointed Ingham as Spears’ lawyer back in 2008, at the start of her conservatorship. At the time, Spears had just endured a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold; the court deemed her not mentally competent enough to hire her own attorney.
Ingham has advocated for Spears ever since, including in hearings last year in which she petitioned the court to end her father, Jamie Spears’, role as conservator of Britney’s finances.
Later this month, Spears is scheduled to appear in court again. Members of her conservatorship have reportedly planned to present evidence disputing or disproving many of her recent claims.
Invader7
Another leech leaves..
DarkZephyr
How is he a “leech” if he is a court appointed lawyer? They don’t make much money at all and do *not get paid by their clients*. Think about it genius. She can’t personally pay for a lawyer due to her situation. Her Dad isn’t going to give her money to pay for a layer to sue him for Christ’s sake. So she HAD to have a court appointed one who gets paid a meager state wage. And yet despite that he has done nothing but advocate for her since 2008. Did you not actually read the article? How the hell is he a “leech”? She either lied or misspoke in court and claimed that she never knew that she could request to end her consevatorship but he had actually advised her in the past that she could. She simply just didn’t choose to til now.
ShiningSex
THE ONLY LEECHES ARE THE FREE BRITNEY IDIOTS.
MacAdvisor
Mr. Ingham was fully compensated by the Spears estate for his work on her case. He billed at his full rate as she is not destitute. His appointment by the court was not due her lack of funds, but her mental incapacity at the time. We don’t have any evidence to support his statements over those of Ms. Spears. His legal and fiduciary obligation would have been to end the supervision at the earliest time that was in the interest of his client. If he had told her and she had directed him to not pursue termination, I hope he has signed releases indicating that was her wishes because his Bar card is going to be on the line.
Seth
Why the need to use a picture that makes Britney look crazed?
ShiningSex
BECAUSE THE BITCH IS CRAZY OR ELSE THE JUDGE WOULD HAVE REMOVED HER FATHER. SHE’S ALWAYS BEEN A LIP SYNCHING MESS
ShiningSex
SO OVER THIS BRITNEY CRAP. HER MUSIC SUCKS, THE #FREEBRITNEY FOLKS ARE A RIDICULOUS CULT. MOVE ON.
Hdtex
We’re over you too!
Just how slow are you that you type in all caps? Were you dropped on your head?
barryaksarben
WOW you seem WAY to angry for someone who doesnt like her. Why the vitriol ?
Fahd
A court appointed lawyer is supposed to look out for Britney’s interests and since Britney can afford a lawyer she/her estate is no doubt paying the guy. Britney is clearly not taking his advice since no lawyer would advise his client to make the statement in court that Britney did. If a client is not taking the lawyer’s advice, the lawyer should be allowed to stop representing the client, but in a case like this, the lawyer has to get the court’s permission to withdraw from the case. I say nothing to see in this aspect of Britney’s case.
A new lawyer will be appointed – Britney needs a lawyer looking out for her interests – hopefully someone good can be found whose advice Britney will take. There is a public defender’s office that handles mental health cases and the court can appoint from there – but there’s probably some Hollywood lawyer willing to get involved – Britney should embrace the help and follow his/her advice.
These things can become a downward spiral.
DarkZephyr
Britney seems to want to do this herself. She doesn’t seem to want a lawyer to help her.