Spears' ex disputes lawsuit claims (From York Press)

Spears' ex disputes lawsuit claims

1:09pm Thursday 9th September 2010 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2011

An attorney for Britney Spears's ex-husband has called child abuse claims levelled at the singer by a former bodyguard baseless and motivated by money.

Fernando Flores sued Britney on Wednesday claiming sexual harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. His lawsuit claims she repeatedly exposed herself to him and that he witnessed her punish her young sons with his belt and act inappropriately in front of them.

Kevin Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told The Associated Press that Flores' accusations had been looked into before the suit was filed and warranted no action. He said Federline takes any allegations of abuse or wrongdoing regarding the former couple's children seriously.

"He is satisfied that the allegations are a product of economic motives," Kaplan said. "They are as baseless as they seem."

Federline has custody of the former couple's sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, but Spears has substantial visitation with the boys.

Kaplan said if Federline believed the children were in danger, he would have stepped in already.

He noted that Flores' lawsuit was leaked to online news outlets before the suit was filed. "I think that the timing of this and the nature of the allegations speak for themselves."

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages and includes several lurid allegations of Britney allegedly exposing herself to Flores.

The singer's publicist Holly Shakoor did not return e-mail messages seeking comment on the case.

The lawsuit claims that Britney, among other things, exposed herself to Flores and summoned him to her bedroom while she was naked.