"Britney Spears has made headlines recently, not for her music, but for her erratic behavior. And today those actions may have cost the popstar custody of her children after Los Angeles judge ordered Spears to hand over her two young children to her ex-husband Kevin Federline. Chip Yost is live in the newsroom with the latest on the continuing meltdown of Britney Spears."
Chip Yost- "A family law specialist we spoke to, says what happened to Britney Spears today is a big deal. He described it as an emergency type of hearing, that was likely called because the judge learned something that made him feel like Britney Spear's children were in immediate danger. The specialist also said this it's something that happens on a regular basis to normal people. Whatever you think of Britney Spears you have to feel for her two kids, two-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jaden James. This video, shot yesterday, is what appears to be a typical day for the two kids with photographers documenting their every move. Certified family law specialist, Marshall W. Waller says it's not that unusual."
Marshall W. Waller- "Most people her age have these problems. They have the same problems and they are just not litigated on the same level. They are usually litigated on a much more subdued level because they cannot afford it."
Chip Yost- "Waller, who is the brother of KTLA's Marto Waller, also says it's not unusual for ex-employees to come forward. Just like Spear's former bodyguard, Tony Barretto, did two weeks ago when he filed paperwork with the court saying he had seen misconduct by Spears in front of her kids. What is unusual is that he held a press conference today to react to the news that Spear's kids have been taken from her."
Tony Barretto- "I believe that Britney loves her children, but I was concerned about some of the behavior in which I believe endangered them."
Chip Yost- "His attorney wouldn't answer questions about whether Barretto has sold his story to any tabloids. Still, a judge thought something was wrong with Spear's parenting. Finding at a hearing last month, about a week after this widely panned VMA performance that Spears was a habitual, frequent, and continuous user of controlled substances and alcohol. Couple that with today's court action and Marshall W. Waller says Spears better shape up if she wants to win back custody of her kids."
Marshall W. Waller- "She is a hot topic, everybody follows her around. She can't cross the street without somebody seeing her so this is somebody who really needs to keep her nose clean and she's not doing that."
Chip Yost- "The photographers are waiting as they always are as Britney Spears leaves a Greek restaurant in Malibu recently with her two boys, but two-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jaden James won't be staying with mom anymore. A Superior Court commissioner awarded temporary custody to their dad, Britney's ex Kevin Federline."
Marshall W. Waller- "It is a huge deal, a very big deal. It is a very big deal to literally wake up on a Monday morning and have a judge take your children away from you. It doesn't get any bigger than that."
Chip Yost- "The judge didn't explain why he did what he did, but the reasons have been documented in the tabloids. Her life is a train wreck. The picture of her driving with her baby in her lap without a seat belt. The car crashes she has been in, she doesn't even have a California driver's license. The judge has called Spears a habitual, frequent, and continuous user of drugs and alcohol. He's ordered her to undergo random testing, counseling, and parent coaching and there are reports that she did none of those things. Legal experts say that the judge must have just decided enough is enough."
Marshall W. Waller- "This is a guy who has gone out on a limb and he is trying to work with her. Here he is and I can see him saying to her in court something along the lines of here are the rules that you are going to have to adhere to and if you don't do it, you will lose your kids."
"Chip, so we know what is happening in the short-term, but what about the long-term custody issue about these kids?"
Chip Yost- "Well this obviously doesn't help, but the specialist we spoke to says that the laws are written to try to keep parents with their kids and that he says that these situations are fluid, so if she improves her behavior and comes back and proves to the court that she is learning her lesson and trying to be a better parent, she could regain some of the custody rights she lost today."
"Okay, so we will just have to wait and see. Thank you for that report, Chip Yost."
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