LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jurors have been selected to hear a case against Britney Spears' parents that will focus heavily on events that led up to her public breakdown.

The panel of eight women and four mean was selected Thursday to hear claims by Spears' former confidante and manager, Sam Lutfi, that the singer's mother defamed him. He also claims he has been unfairly blamed for the singer's issues and is owed a share of the singer's fortune for work on Spears' album "Blackout" and other duties.

Opening statements are expected later Thursday.

The pop superstar remains under a court-ordered conservatorship and is not expected to testify during the trial. Her co-conservators are her father and her fiance.

Spears' parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, and attorneys for her conservators have denied wrongdoing.