Papa Spears -- If You Hurt Britney, I Hurt You 

 Posted May 14th 2009 6:33PM by TMZ Staff

Britney Spears' dad claims allegations that he battered Sam Lutfi
last year are completely bogus -- because Jamie Spears believes
he had a legal right to beat his ass if he wanted to ... but
Jamie is coy about whether he actually did it.

In legal papers filed today, Jamie is very careful to not admit
he punched Lutfi in the chest at Brit's house last year -- as
Lutfi suggested in a recent lawsuit. However, Jamie says the law
allows him to open a can of whoop ass if the situation calls for
it -- and according to the docs, the Lutfi situation called for
it.

Jamie claims "he was provoked" by Lutfi and was "privileged to
use force in and about the matter complained."

He adds, "Any necessary force may be used to protect from
wrongful injury the person or property of oneself, or a wife,
husband, child, parent or other relative or member of one's
family"

http://www.tmz.com/2009/05/14/papa-spears-if-you-hurt-britney-i-hurt-you