A US judge has ordered Britney Spears to explain why she has not responded to a lawsuit filed by the manufacturer of a diet pill. Spears is obligated to give a response to legal action taken by Zoller Laboratories, DG Enterprises and Basic Research LLC, who make the Zantrex-3 diet pill.
They began legal action against Britney after Ms Spears' people threatened their own lawsuit against the pharmaceutical firm over the unendorsed use of Britney's image in advertising for the drug. The makers of Zantrex-3 used Britney in their ads after the singer was seen spilling a bottle of the pills at Heathrow Airport last year. Spears' people immediately issued legal proceedings over the ads, but the drugs firm reckoned they hadn't actually contravened any state or federal laws in making the adverts (because the ads merely referred to the fact that Britney had been seen with the pills) and they asked a judge to confirm that fact.
In judging on the matter the courts asked for a response from Britney, originally by 1 Sep. When no response was forthcoming a new deadline was set of 22 Oct. If still no response is made the Zantrex-3 people will win by default and will be at liberty to use Britney's image in their advertising.
Britney is, of course, currently without management, having decided to not renew her nine year management relationship with Larry Rudolph, possibly (and we stress 'possibly' here) over disagreements regarding Ms Spears' recent marriage to Kevin Federline.