BRITNEY SPEARS MELTDOWN REVISITED: WAS IT AN OVERDOSE?

If Britney's handlers were worried a can of worms would be opened this week as the 2009 defamation lawsuit filed by her ex-manager Sam Lutfi went to trial, they can worry no more. The can is open.

In the opening statement led by Lutfi's lawyer, Joseph Schleimer, a number of serious allegations have been made surrounding the time of Britney's infamous 2008 meltdown and resulting 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold.

TMZ are reporting that Schleimer has alleged that on the day of the meltdown, Britney had an amphetamine prescription filled -- Adderall medication for ADD -- and that of the morning of January 28, 2008 (the day of the meltdown) she took six to eight pills. She then took several more throughout the day which caused her to "go off the rails."

Schleimer has also been telling the court that Britney was a serious drug user at the time, with a penchant for crystal meth. Lutfi's lawyer suggested that when Britney shaved her head in 2007 it was to hide the drug evidence, putting forward the idea that she was concerned that if she got tested for drugs by a judge that she'd test positive and lose custody of her kids.

Lutfi's lawyer's other claims include that Britney approached Lutfi about managing her at a rate of 15 per cent commission (which was about $800,000 per month while not touring and potentially millions while she was), that Lutfi encouraged Britney to get psychiatric help two days prior to her 2008 meltdown and also that he discouraged her from her disastrous 2007 MTV awards comeback appearance as she was out of shape and wouldn't rehearse.

Britney's lawyers are yet to make their responding statements.

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