Blair Berk, former attorney of Lindsay Lohan arrives at a Los Angeles courthouse to defend Lindsay Lohan, Aug. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Update: Thanks to the reader who noted an early Radaronline document containing Blair Berk’s name. I apologize but Berk testified against Sam Lutfi in 2009. I remain curious why more wasn’t made of the association by tabloid media or other.
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I’m curious. Blair Berk is a heavyweight (not fat) attorney based in Los Angeles yet two media outlets kept her name out of the media this weekend.
TMZ reported yesterday that Samuel Barth filed for a protective order against Sam Lutfi yet said nothing about Berk who filed papers on Barth’s behalf.
Radaronline, lesser known than TMZ but proven in courtroom reporting, likewise omitted Berk from their story on Lutfi and Barth. They claimed today the FBI is investigating Lutfi but no mention of the intriguing relationships between Berk, Lutfi and Barth.
Berk has prominence. She represents Jamie Spears beginning from at least February 2008 when the conservatorship over Britney began. Berk is possibly best known for criminal defense of Hollywood A-listers, such as Lindsay Lohan, Mel Gibson and more recently Leonardo DiCaprio. Berk also has intimate knowledge of Lutfi and served as a witness against him last year.
Berk and Lutfi may have first came into contact in February or early March 2008 based on Berk’s testimony against Lutfi on April 1, 2009 regarding a restraining order proceeding against Lutfi and two others.
Under questioning by attorney Joel Boxer, who also represents Jamie Spears and a co-conservator of Britney’s estate, Andrew Wallet, attorney, Berk spoke of a Mercedes Benz that Lutfi drove when he was still with Britney’s companion.
“He (Lutfi) was extremely agitated about the fact that there had been a car that he had represented to Mercedes that had been requested by Ms. Spears which is a car that he had driven for his personal use,” said Berk.
Berk personally inventoried the vehicle and discovered a letter addressed to Britney from Jon Eardley, an attorney who has a permanent restraining order against him effective based on allegations he conspired to overthrow the conservatorship. She did not specify what other items might have belonged to Britney from the car other than to say she returned what she deemed to belong to Britney and to Lutfi respectively.
I don’t know how many times Berk has talked to, met or exchanged emails with Lutfi but let’s say for Barth’s purposes, she knows Lutfi better than many given almost three years of Britney in a conservatorship and litigation involving Lutfi. Berk knows first hand his written and vocal communication style and could probably testify herself as to the authenticity or lack thereof of Lutfi’s voice or text messages. That’s my opinion. Berk to me then, was not random and I doubt TMZ and Radar keeping her out of this weekend’s news random either.
Berk’s involvement with Lutfi didn’t end in spring of 2008. She testified in April 2009 that Lutfi texted her on the evening of Jan. 10, 2009 requesting that she meet with him. Subsequent to the text message Lutfi made clear to her that there was “embarrassing information that he was fearful would be released about him.” He said that unless Berk suppressed the information that “destructive and unflattering information would be released” about Jamie and Britney.
“I immediately contacted law enforcement because of the extortive nature of Mr. Lutfi’s threats. I took action to continue to communicating with him because I felt, based on my unfortunately 20 years of dealing with alleged extortionists and those that would extort my clients, that he would continue in his threats, extortive threats,” Berk said.
Five dollars bought me Barth’s attorney’s name and future hearing date. Radaronline reports the next hearing is set for Sept. 28. Yep, that agrees with my information.
Los Angeles Superior Court case summary:
Case Number: BS128349
SAMUEL BARTH VS. OSAMA LUTFI
Filing Date: 09/10/2010
Case Type: Civil Harassment (General Jurisdiction)
Status: Pending
Future Hearings
09/28/2010 at 08:30 am in department 75 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Hrng on Petn Prohibit Harassment (TRO IN EFFECT)
Documents Filed | Proceeding Information
Parties
BARTH SAMUEL – Plaintiff/Petitioner
BERK BLAIR ESQ. – Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner
LUTFI OSAMA – Defendant/Respondent
SAM LUTFI – Defendant/Respondent’s AKA
Case Information | Party Information | Proceeding Information
Documents Filed (Filing dates listed in descending order)
09/10/2010 Application for TRO
Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner
09/10/2010 Order to Show Cause
Filed by Plaintiff
If you just look at the documents, Blair Berk of Tarlow and Berk is listed as the attorney. Doesn’t seem like anything was “omitted by the media”.
What set of documents are you looking at? I was looking at TMZ’s first release of the news — did I miss something? Thank you.
They are on radaronline on the first article about the story.
Is this Radar’s first reporting? http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/09/family-files-restraining-order-against-britney-spears-former-confidante
Page five has Berk’s name. You’re right. But why didn’t Radar or TMZ trumpet Blair’s involvement? And why not include every page of what was filed? Why is it broken between TMZ and Radar?
Berk was a witness against Lutfi in 2009. She didn’t testify against her will.
I don’t understand omitting or downplaying the information. Do you? We may at least agree Radar, not TMZ, downplayed Berk’s history and role. TMZ omitted it entirely. Yes?
p.s. Obvi. Google news didn’t pull up Radar’s Sept. 10 coverage. I trusted it? You do know TMZ and Radar seem to partner in the meanwhile? They share some blood but who knows.
Hi Carmela,
love the site, I come here to get all the REAL info.
this has nothing to do with Blair Berk or Sam Lutfi, I was just wondering what you thought about Britney’s ex-bodyguard’s lawsuit.
ok – also see in the fax number. I apologize. I didn’t see the document before. Thank you for bringing it in round about fashion to my attention.