The Devil Will Not Go Away

In a bizarre move on Thursday, publicist Michael Sands, who used to be the mouthpiece for Kevin Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, but who now represents Britney Spears' strange little friend Sam Lutfi,attempted to file a motion with the court to have both the pop star's custody and conservatorship hearings moved to the jurisdiction of a federal court.

The papers, delivered by Sands but not yet reviewed by the judge, were drafted by lawyer John Eardley, who has offices in Jericho, NY, and Washington, DC, but who — from what OK! can tell — is not licensed to practice in California.

According to the document, Eardley argues that the federal courts should take both cases and claims, among other things, that Britney has been "stripped of her right to access counsel of her choosing... denied access to her motor vehicles... denied the right to associate freely with her friends," and perhaps most telling, "denied the right to her finances."

One case insider tells OK! that Sam is obviously behind this latest move. "He's upset because he can't see Britney and have her pay him money," explains the insider. "If Sam gets paid, then he can pay the lawyer and Sands. It's all ludicrous."

As for whether there is any merit to this motion, the insider tells OK!, "I'd be willing to bet that aside from Sam and Sands grandstanding on the courthouse steps, this is the last we hear about it."

OK Magazine

In the documents obtained by TMZ, attorney Jon Eardley claims Britney's rights have been snatched away from her and she has been cut off from life as she knows it.

Eardley claims, "It is doubtful that Ms. Spears can receive equal protection and a fair trial or hearing in the custody proceedings because of the intense media scrutiny of what would normally be private aspects of a person's life." It appears Eardley wants an injunction issued in federal court, asking the judge for the power to protect Brit in the custody case as well.

The documents allege "the deprivation of her civil liberties by the conservator is so severe as to interfere with the effectiveness of the scheduled medications that are covered by the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act." This appears to be an attempt to get the Federal court to accept jurisdiction.

It is unclear on whose behalf Eardley is acting. We're told Sam Lutfi and his spokesman, Michael Sands, have something to do with the filing, though the exact nature of their involvement is unclear.
TMZ