Judge orders Britney to pay Federline’s fees
Judge orders Britney to pay Federline’s fees
LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears was ordered by a court commissioner Monday to pay ex-husband Kevin Federline $375,000 to cover his attorney fees in their child-custody dispute. Mark Vincent Kaplan, Federline’s lead attorney, had asked for nearly $500,000.Commissioner Scott Gordon issued the order in response to arguments presented last week. Spears’ attorney Stacy Phillips argued that Kaplan was overbilling and that Federline can pay his own legal bills, but Gordon wrote that Spears’ actions led to a great majority of the litigation and delays in the case.
Meanwhile, Spears’ friend Sam Lutfi agreed to stay away from the pop star for at least another month, delaying a hearing that could have made a restraining order against him permanent. Lutfi and conservators for Spears’ estate agreed to have the restraining order extended for 30 days, Lutfi spokesman Michael Sands said Sunday.
Clinton, Pitt to build for Katrina victims
NEW ORLEANS — Former President Clinton and Brad Pitt met with hundreds of volunteers in the Lower 9th Ward at the site where a foundation headed by Pitt plans to begin building affordable homes for Hurricane Katrina victims. “We hope to see a huge change here in the next six months,” Pitt told a group of residents as he posed for pictures Sunday and signed autographs. The 44-year-old actor and Clinton walked a street as hundreds of volunteers on either side, wielding shovels and rakes, prepared the land for homes.
ABBA drummer dies
MADRID, Spain — A former drummer for the Swedish pop band ABBA has been found dead with cuts on his neck on the Spanish island of Mallorca, police said Monday. Foul play is not suspected. A Civil Guard spokeswoman identified the man as Ola Brunkert, 62. She said an autopsy was being carried out but that the death appears to have been an accident. She spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with police rules. A neighbor found Brunkert’s body Sunday evening in the garden of his house in the town of Arta, the spokeswoman said. Police believe Brunkert fell and cut himself in the neck indoors. He then apparently tried to leave the house to seek help but collapsed. A jazz drummer, Brunkert is believed to have been the only session musician to have appeared on all ABBA’s recordings.
Today’s birthdays
Actor Peter Graves is 82. Composer John Kander (“Chicago”) is 81. Author John Updike is 76. Nobel peace laureate and former South African president F.W. de Klerk is 72. Country singer Charley Pride is 70. Singer-actress Vanessa Williams is 45. Olympic gold medal speedskater Bonnie Blair is 44. Rock musician Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) is 42. Rock singer-musician Miki Berenyi is 41. Rapper-actress-talk show host Queen Latifah is 38. Actor-comedian Dane Cook is 36. Singer Devin Lima (LFO) is 31. Rock singer Adam Levine (Maroon 5) is 29.