Judge ends case against Britney Spears' parents

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Britney Spears' former confidante and self-professed manager failed to prove any of his libel and breach-of-contract claims against the singer's parents and her caretakers, a judge who dismissed his case mid-trial ruled on Thursday.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bruguera said an attorney for Sam Lutfi hadn't proven any of his claims in the case that centred on events before the singer's public meltdown more than four years ago.

Mr Lutfi's side rested its case on Tuesday, but Judge Bruguera agreed with arguments by attorneys for Spears' father and her conservators that there wasn't sufficient evidence to send any of his claims to a jury.

Mr Lutfi had sued Lynne Spears for libel, and sued the singer's father, Jamie, for allegedly hitting him at the singer's mansion in an incident shortly before Jamie Spears and others were granted control over the singer's life. Mr Lutfi also had claimed he was owed a 15 per cent share of the singer's earnings, but Judge Bruguera disagreed.