Britney Spears spiraled out of control after Justin Timberlake breakup

LOS ANGELES – A lawyer for Britney Spears’ father told jurors Friday that the singer’s family went to heroic efforts to save her during a well-chronicled public meltdown that included shaving her head and other bizarre behavior. Spears’ father, Jamie, in particular went to great lengths, attorney Leon Gladstone said during opening statements in the trial of a lawsuit Spears’ former manager Sam Lutfi has brought against Spears and her parents. Gladstone said Spears’ life began to spiral out of control after a painful breakup with childhood sweetheart Justin Timberlake. Jamie Spears worked tirelessly, Gladstone said, to rescue his daughter from drug addiction, mental illness and the hold that Lutfihad on her during that time. Gladstone told of Jamie Spears’ going to the hospital where his daughter was in a psychiatric ward, staying up with her all night and trying to bring her back to normalcy. “To Jamie, this is a battle for life or death, and Britney is at her most vulnerable,” Gladstone said. He told of another day that Jamie Spears rushed to a hospital, where he found Britney strapped to a gurney, screaming and yelling. “She is completely unhinged. He stays with her, walking the floor. He is scared out of his mind. He’s thinking, ‘My daughter has lost everything.’” The attorney said Jamie Spears expected to turn on the TV one day and learn that his daughter had died. During this period, Gladstone said, Lutfi was of no help. Jamie Spears confronted Lutfi in the kitchen …