Lawyer leaves Britney in a mess

Washington (ANI): The attorney representing pop star Britney Spears in her child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline has decided to withdraw from the case. According to court documents, Sorrell Trope filed a request to be relieved from the singer"s custody case, citing 'breakdown in communications" between him and Spears.

"There has been a breakdown in communications between Petitioner and Trope&Trope making further representation of her interests impossible," E! Online quoted the court documents, as stating. Trope did not reveal further details but said that the ultimate decision to quit isn't up to him, as he has to wait for the court"s judgement. "A lawyer cannot simply withdraw from a case. We will ask the court to relieve us," he said.

A hearing for the lawyer is scheduled for Feb. 4, which is followed by a hearing for Spears and K- Fed in the custody case on Feb. 19. Trope was the singer"s third lawyer in her ongoing battle with her ex-husband.