LOS ANGELES (AP) - A lawyer for Britney Spears' father says the singing star's family went to heroic efforts to save her during a well-chronicled public meltdown that included shaving her head and other bizarre behavior.

Leon Gladstone told jurors Friday that Spears' father, Jamie, helped save his daughter from drug addiction and other woes during that time.

Gladstone says Spears' life spiraled out of control after she broke up with childhood sweetheart Justin Timberlake.

The attorney says Jamie Spears also had to save his daughter from a manipulative manager in Sam Lufti.

Lufti is suing Spears and her family, saying he was libeled in a book her mother wrote about those times.

During his opening statement Thursday, Lufti's lawyer said his client never took advantage of Spears.

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.