Spears' lawyers quit custody case

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The legal team in Britney Spears' high-profile Los Angeles custody battle reportedly has filed papers to withdraw as the troubled pop star's counsel.

Spears is locked in a legal battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over custody of their two toddler sons.

TMZ.com said the law firm of Trope and Trope filed legal papers Wednesday asking to withdraw as Spears' representation in the case.

"There has been a breakdown in communications between (Spears) and Trope and Trope, making further representation of her interests impossible," wrote Tara Scott, an attorney with the firm.

TMZ.com cited a source who said Spears missed another scheduled appointment to give a deposition in the case Wednesday, a move that contributed to her attorneys' decision to dump her.

Spears was photographed out and about shortly after she said she was too sick to sit for a deposition last month.