Entertainment LA Spears Lawyer - Britney Spears' lawyer speaks to press about charge facing the singer
NAME: LOS SPEARS 20080102E
TAPE: EF08/0013
IN_TIME: 10:22:34:22
DURATION: 00:02:57:16
SOURCES: AP Television
DATELINE: Van Nuys, California, 2 Janurary 2008
RESTRICTIONS: Check script for details
SHOTLIST
AP Television
Van Nuys, California, 2 January 2008
1. MS lawyer J. Michael Flanagan outside courthouse with press
2. WS lawyer and press outside court
3. SOUNDBITE (English) J. Michael Flanagan, Lawyer
"They do have a problem with proving that she is domiciled here in California. As many of you probably know she has a house in Louisiana, she has a house in Florida, she has a house here. She spends most of her time here, this is where her kids are, and, that's not totally within her control now. So we don't know if they can establish that she is actually domiciled here, they don't know what Britney thinks, does she intend to stay here soon as she has worked out other problems and then once they can establish that, well now that she's got her drivers licence, she got it 6 days after this complaint was filed, immediately after I told her that they were charging her with a 12500, now, why isn't that a fixer ticket?"
4. MS reverse, lawyer with press
5. SOUNDBITE (English) J. Michael Flanagan, Lawyer
"I have told them unequivocally under no circumstances will we ever accept a probationary type sentence. That would be a sentence whereby they could revoke her probation if she committed a traffic offence or another violation of the law and I won't accept probation because when you're on probation and you commit some small violation such as what Paris Hilton did, the judge can do anything with you that he wants, you don't have a right to a trial by jury, you don't have the burden of proof on the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt, you lose you constitutional protections that we all value in this country. And that's not going to happen here."
6. MS lawyer with press
7. SOUNDBITE (English) J. Michael Flanagan, Lawyer
"I don't think they're trying to make an example out of her, I think that, basically, the proof they have of the issues that they have to deal with is something they assume is there because they read it in the newspaper, they read it in TV, but when it comes to proving the actual issues here, they need actual evidence. They don't need a video tape footage or newspaper articles, they have to have the evidence. I have requested that they provide me with the actual evidence, I don't even think right now they have the evidence in their police report to prove that she was driving on the highway."
8. WS reverse, lawyer with press
BRITNEY SPEARS' LAWYER SPEAKS TO PRESS ABOUT DRIVING CHARGING FACING SINGER
An attorney for Britney Spears wants the Los Angeles city attorney's office to prove that the pop star is a permanent California resident and subject to state laws that require her to have a valid state driver's license.
Lawyer J. Michael Flanagan spoke to reporters outside court in Van Nuys, California, Wednesday (02JAN08), about the driving charge facing the singer.
Spears faces up to one year of probation if convicted in a misdemeanour case of allegedly driving without a valid
license.
The case is related to a videotaped crash in a parking lot in August 2007. She has pleaded not guilty.
A hit-and-run charge previously was dismissed.
Spears' attorney J. Michael Flanagan filed a court motion Wednesday that would require prosecutors to demonstrate
that Spears, who owns homes in Louisiana and Florida, intends to make Los Angeles her permanent legal home.
"If they can establish that Britney is domiciled here in California, that she permanently intends to stay here, then
she does have a requirement to get a license," Flanagan said in an interview.
Flanagan said Spears had a valid Louisiana license at the time of the incident, and got a California license six days
after the misdemeanour complaint was filed.
A call seeking comment from the city attorney's office was not immediately returned.
Spears was not present in court Wednesday.
The next court date is Jan. 25.
The troubled singer is also currently involved in a custody battle over her children with ex husband Kevin Federline.
Spears and Federline have been wrangling for months over custody of their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and
1-year-old Jayden James.
Federline, 29, has temporary custody of the children because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has
defied court orders.
Spears and Federline were married in October 2004 and finalised their divorce in July.