Wednesday, 29 April 2009

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Sam Lutfi ordered to stay away from Britney Spears for three years

The star's former manager is issued with a restraining order

Britney Spears parted ways with former manager Sam Lutfi in 2008

It's official: Sam Lutfi is a threat to Britney Spears.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva Bobb issued a three-year restraining order against the singer's former manager on Tuesday.

Jon Eardley, a lawyer who has repeatedly challenged the validity of Jamie Spears's legal control over his daughter, was also slapped with a restraining order for three years.

Both men must stay at least 100 yards away from Britney, her two sons, and her family members' homes, and must not harass Britney and her children, or contact them through phone, mail and email. It also prohibits them from "acting on Ms. Spears's behalf or purporting to act on her behalf." The orders, however, do not specifically protect Jamie and Britney's mother Lynne Spears, which Jamie had sought.

The singer's father, who initially filed the request on Jan. 30, alleged that both men have harassed his daughter, adding Lutfi arranged the smuggling of a cell phone to the pop star at a hotel.

Bryan Freedman, Lutfi's attorney tells PEOPLE: "We absolutely will appeal this ruling. Never before in history has a restraining order been issued against someone who answered another person's cries for help."

The order followed several hearings in which Spears's father, her hairstylist, bodyguard, among others, testified that the singer was in fear of Lutfi. In his defense, Lutfi's younger sister Christina testified that it was Britney who hatched the cell phone scheme because she allegedly wanted Lutfi's help to end her father's control.

Last week, Samuel Ingham, a court-appointed lawyer for the pop star, told the judge that "my client's situation has improved dramatically over the last fourteen months. [The orders against Lutfi] is in my client's best interest ... she has suffered emotional distress."

Meanwhile, Lutfi's lawsuit against the Spears family for defamation and battery is still pending.