meltdowns (10 posts)

Kevin Mazur/Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage.com

Britney Spears' father has gotten technical.

Following up on his petition to collect "replacement compensation" for the month of February for being the coconservator of his daughter's estate, Jamie Spears stated in a declaration filed June 6 that, starting Feb. 1, when he was first given control over Britney's affairs following her second hospitalization this year, he was with her "on a near-twenty-four-hour basis to ensure her safety and well-being."

A court commissioner did not allocate $2,500 a week for the elder Spears—plus funds to lease a car—until March 3.

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They tried to take her picture and she said no, no, no.

Amy Winehouse was returning to her London home Monday after paying her incarcerated husband, Blake, a visit when she reportedly lashed out at the photographers who were awaiting her arrival. According to the U.K.'s Telegraph, the "Rehab" crooner allegedly pushed a paparazzo and grabbed his camera.

Lucky for these shutterbugs, Amy refrained from siccing her mice on 'em.

Ramey Photo

There's a method to this madness.

The $2,500 weekly allowance Jamie Spears receives from Britney's estate for acting as her conservator isn't quite the random number it seems to be, nor is it just an estimate of how much work it takes to manage the popster's at-times-tumultuous affairs.

According to court documents obtained by E! News, the elder Spears had been earning a living working as a caterer and private chef prior to hunkering down with his daughter following her weeklong stay at UCLA Medical Center in early February. (View the documents.)

And, as you might have noticed, taking care of Britney was a full-time job back then.

"Because Mr. Spears has been forced to forego [sic] other employment in order to devote his full time and attention to Britney and her affairs, he has lost his regular source of income from which to pay his living expenses," the court order, filed May 13 in Los Angeles Superior Court, states.

The commissioner presiding over Britney's conservatorship case originally ordered Jamie's allowance to start rolling in after March 3, but the elder Spears successfully lobbied for $2,500 per week dating back to Feb. 1, when he was first appointed coconservator of the "Toxic" singer's estate along with attorney Andrew Wallet.

As it stands, a hearing to revisit the conservatorship issue is scheduled for July 31. There's also a hearing set for May 29 to review these money matters.

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com

This probably wasn't the kind of service Pete Wentz had in mind a week before his wedding.

The newlywed rocker was served May 10 with a lawsuit filed last month by an allegedly traumatized fan who claims Wentz and several members of his entourage roughed him up following an invite-only Fall Out Boy performance in Chicago last June.

Per court documents obtained by E! News, the lucky process server tried knocking on Wentz's door once on May 8 and twice on May 9, but no one answered. Then, on the 10th, contact was finally made by at least someone at the residence at 11:31 a.m.

Andy Kallas sued Wentz for assault, battery and negligence saying the unprovoked beatdown at Schuba's Tavern in Chicago resulted in injuries to his head, mouth and face and caused him a sizable amount of emotional trauma. The club has also been named as a defendant.

"Even small people who get the first blow can still do some damage,” the plaintiff's attorney, Stephen Zouras, told E! News at the time. “He started the attack and then had his bodyguards complete the attack for him."

Meanwhile, a rep for Wentz called the case "meritless."

"We looked into it, and the facts don't support his claims. We will vigorously defend this case in court."

Ben Dome, PacificCoastNews.com

Amy Winehouse is as free as a songbird again.

London's Metropolitan Police confirms that the Grammy winner posted bail and was released from custody after being arrested and questioned for several hours Wednesday in connection with a video leaked earlier this year to Britain's Sun tabloid in which Winehouse talks about—and seemingly uses—drugs.

"Amy Winehouse voluntarily attended a London police station today by appointment. She was arrested in order to be interviewed and is cooperating fully with inquiries," publicist Chris Goodman said in a statement earlier today when news of the "Rehab" singer's second arrest in as many weeks got out. "The interview relates to a video handed to police earlier this year."

British authorities have explained that it's routine procedure to put someone under arrest when they appear for questioning in connection with an alleged crime.

Especially when that person is Amy Winehouse.

Donato Sardella/WireImage.com

UPDATE: Pete Wentz's rep had this to say about the assault claim filed against the Fall Out Boy bassist earlier today in Chicago:

"This case is meritless. We looked into it and the facts don't support his claims. We will vigorously defend this case in court."

So there.
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Maybe Pete Wentz needs to tone the emo down a notch.

The newly betrothed rocker was sued for assault and battery today by a Chicago man who claims he was beaten up by Wentz and his security team following a Fall Out Boy performance at a Chicago bar last June. (View the lawsuit.)

Andy Kallas claims Wentz and cohorts "without authorization and provocation, by physical force did strike, kick and beat" him for several minutes, leaving him with "serious injuries to his head, mouth and face," per the complaint filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

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FAME Pictures

A document obtained by E! News shows that Britney Online Inc., one of Britney Spears' numerous name-brand companies, owes $23,589.17 in state taxes on the entity's 2004 earnings. (View the lien.)

"Further interest and fees will accrue" if the sum is not paid, according to the Franchise Tax Board of the State of California.

There's no word yet on how Britney Touring, Britney Brands, Britney Films, Britney Television and FairyZone Productions are doing as far as the state—or the IRS—is concerned.

But isn't it inevitable that a court commissioner will solve the problem by simply pointing Spears' attorneys in the direction of her bottomless bill-paying pit, aka her estate, to take care of the back taxes?

FAME Pictures

The lawyers who have been toiling for Britney Spears and her family are about to cash in big-time.

A court commissioner on Thursday approved a request from Britney's coconservators to pay nearly $400,000 in legal bills using money from her estate's private trust, which includes the "Toxic" singer's bank and brokerage accounts and is temporarily under her brother, Bryan Spears', control. (View the case review.)

Coconservator Andrew Wallet and attorneys representing Britney, dad Jamie Spears and Bryan Spears were the only ones present at the afternoon hearing, during which all agreed it would be all right to dip into the pop princess' estimated $100 million fortune to settle their fees.

"The conservators monitor closely every penny that goes in and out," conservatorship attorney Geraldine Wyle said in supporting the decision.

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