Spears’ lawyer fights K-Fed’s legal fees
Linda Deutsch

LOS ANGELES—Britney Spears’ new lawyer has a tip for Kevin Federline: If you’re going to ask for your legal bills to be paid, don’t leave a $2,000 tip for the waiter on a $365 check. Attorney Stacy Phillips, who recently took over Spears’ case, told a court Monday that the pop star has already spent more than $1 million on her child-custody case and objects to paying nearly a half-million dollars in legal fees for her ex-husband, who has enough money to have recently left the exorbitant gratuity.
Phillips had asked for the hearing to challenge a move by Federline’s lead lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, to have Spears pay his legal bills. Commissioner Scott Gordon did not rule during the hearing, part of which was held behind closed doors. Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini said the decision may be made Tuesday. Federline has sole custody of his two little boys by Spears, who is under the conservatorship of her father, James, following bizarre behaviour and two hospitalizations. Federline and James Spears chatted amiably at court.
During the hearing, Phillips said that Federline’s lawyers have billed excessively and are entitled to only about $150,00 to $175,000. Phillips also said Federline has the money to pay his lawyers himself, citing excessive personal spending by him. She said he recently had a $365 check at a restaurant and gave the waiter a $2,000 tip. “God bless!” Phillips said. “If he’s willing to tip someone that much for serving him, he should be willing to pay his legal fees.” Kaplan argued that the $600-an-hour fees charged by him and partner James Simon were for legitimate work in an extraordinary case. “If the court views this as a simple custody case, I’m in trouble,” Kaplan told Gordon.