Britney’s a no-show for deposition

LOS ANGELES - Britney Spears was apparently too under the weather to go under oath.

The pop star was a no-show at a court-ordered deposition Wednesday morning in her ongoing child custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

A throng of news media and paparazzi was waiting for the pop star to show up at 10 a.m. at attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan’s office. About an hour later, Kaplan, Federline’s attorney, said he had been informed that Spears was not coming.

Kaplan said he was told Spears didn’t feel well.

“She’s going to show at a later date,” Kaplan said, “but we don’t waive any rights to ask for certain relief from the court as a result of having a court-ordered deposition not attended.”

Access Hollywood reports that Kaplan said he’ll be speaking with Federline to see how Spears’ ex-husband would like to proceed. Federline’s camp could seek an arrest warrant from the court.

Federline’s attorneys were expected to grill Spears on her abilities as a mother, as well as her problems with drug and alcohol abuse and her failures in following court orders.

Spears hasn’t exactly been developing a reputation for punctuality: Kaplan complained in court last month that she was routinely ducking court-ordered drug tests, often failing to pick up her telephone or respond promptly when called to the laboratory. After that hearing, the court ordered her to provide a reliable telephone number.

Spears and Federline have been wrangling for months over custody of their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James.

Federline has temporary custody of the children because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders. Attorneys for Spears and Federline, married in October 2004, have repeatedly been in court about custody since they split. Their divorce was final in July.

The Associated Press and Access Hollywood contributed to this report.

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