QUICK TAKES - April 29, 2009

A man Britney Spears’ father describes as “a predator” must stay at least 100 yards away from the singer and her children, a judge ruled Tuesday.

In a written decision that capped a series of contentious hearings, L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Aviva Bobb also prohibited Osama “Sam” Lutfi, a one-time Spears confidant, from contacting her in any manner and from filing legal papers on her behalf.

The judge issued a second restraining order against Whittier attorney Jon Eardley, who has claimed Spears hired him to represent her. Both orders expire in 2012.

Lawyers for Spears’ father, Jamie, maintain the men were part of a con- spiracy to break up the court-ordered conservatorship that has overseen the performer’s affairs for 14 months. Lutfi’s lawyer vowed to appeal. He had argued that Spears initiated the contact in an attempt to free herself from her father’s control.

“Never before in the history of the world has a restraining order been issued against someone who did nothing more than answer a cry for help,” Lutfi’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, said.

-- Harriet Ryan