LOS ANGELES – Britney Spears’ darkest days are about to be revisited in a Los Angeles courtroom, but not by the resurgent pop singer.

Instead jurors will begin hearing testimony next week on claims by Spears’ former manager that he was vilified and unfairly blamed for the singer’s public meltdown more than four years ago. Spears’ parents are defendants and will likely testify, but the panel won’t hear directly from the Grammy winner.

Former Spears confidante Sam Lutfi is seeking millions of dollars from Spears and her family, claiming her mother’s book lied about him drugging and isolating the pop superstar. He is also seeking a portion of the singer’s profits, claiming he was a key player in her 2007 album “Blackout” and had the right to serve as her manager for years.

Instead, the singer spent much of that time recovering under a court-ordered conservatorship.

A probate judge overseeing Spears’ conservatorship has ruled that the singer’s caretakers should not allow her to testify “under any circumstances.” Lutfi’s attorney has cited the singer’s record tour and her current role as a judge on Fox’s “The X Factor” as reasons for why the singer should testify, but he may have to settle for the testimony of Spears’ divorced parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears.

Jury selection began Friday and will continue Tuesday, with opening statements expected later in the week.

The case is the culmination of years of acrimony between Lutfi and Spears’ family and conservators, who successfully obtained a restraining order against him to keep him from contacting the singer or trying to intervene in her life. The order has expired, but conservatorship attorneys are seeking repayment for more than $93,000 in legal fees — a judgment Lutfi is appealing.

Lutfi sued in February 2009, roughly a year after Spears was hospitalized and placed under the conservatorship to take control of her health and finances. The move by Jamie Spears came after months of erratic behavior by his daughter, including shaving her head, speaking in a British accent and other bizarre incidents.

Man gaga for Madonna gets break in court

NEW YORK – A New York City judge has dismissed weapons charges against a former firefighter who was arrested outside Madonna’s apartment building two years ago.

Police say Robert Linhart parked his SUV outside the Material Girl’s Central Park West apartment, laid out a tarp and spray-painted poster boards with love notes. One said “Madonna, I need you.” Another read, “Tell me yes or no. If it’s yes, my dream will come true. If it’s no, I will go.”

The New York Post reports that Manhattan state Supreme Court Judge Analisa Torres ruled Friday that police improperly seized a gravity knife and an ice pick from Linhart when they arrested him. A resisting-arrest charge is still pending.

Romney slogan plagiarized?

LOS ANGELES – The creator of TV’s “Friday Night Lights” is accusing Mitt Romney of plagiarizing a phrase from the show to use as a campaign slogan.

Peter Berg wrote a letter to Romney on Friday saying he’s “not thrilled” that the Republican presidential candidate is using the phrase “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose” on campaign posters and his Facebook page. On the TV show, a small-town Texas football coach uses the phrase to inspire his players.

The Boss to stump for the other boss

WASHINGTON – Bruce Springsteen will be back campaigning for President Barack Obama.

The musician will join former President Bill Clinton at a Thursday rally in Parma, Ohio, two days after the second presidential debate. Obama will not attend the rally.

Springsteen also will appear at a campaign event Thursday in Ames, Iowa.

Springsteen campaigned for Obama in 2008, but these will be his first political appearances of the 2012 cycle. Clinton is a prominent campaigner for Obama.

Clinton and Springsteen’s joint appearance in Ohio underscores the swing state’s importance.

– From news service reports