Court grants conservatorship over actress Bynes

[August 10, 2013]  OXNARD, Calif. (AP) -- A judge granted the mother of Amanda Bynes a temporary conservatorship on Friday to make decisions about her daughter's treatment in case the former child actress is released from a facility where she is being treated for mental health issues.

The decision by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Glen M. Reiser came more than two weeks after Bynes, 27, was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital after months of erratic behavior.

The ruling permits Lynn Bynes to control decisions involving the health and finances of her daughter. It will be in effect until Sept. 30.

A psychiatric hold on Bynes has been extended for 30 days but could be ended any time.

The actress did not appear in court. Her court-appointed attorney said Bynes did not feel that a conservatorship was necessary.

Reiser said his ruling was based on a doctor's evaluation and an investigator's interview of Bynes. The judge said ruled the actress had a "lack of capacity to give informed consent to medical care."

Her parents Richard and Lynn Bynes sat calmly in court and spoke only to acknowledge that they understood the ruling.

Reiser sealed Bynes' medical records

They sought the conservatorship on July 26, days after authorities involuntarily committed their daughter after she started a fire in the driveway of a home in her hometown of Thousand Oaks.

The petition states that their daughter had become increasingly paranoid in recent months and expressed fears she was being watched by smoke detectors and devices in the dashboard of her car.

"We are deeply concerned that Amanda poses a substantial risk to herself, to others, and to property based on recent events in her life," the filing stated.

The petition also stated her parents' concern that Bynes was spending too rapidly and they needed to step in and control her finances. Lynn Bynes was granted the authority to buy her daughter a residence if necessary; however, Reiser told her she should consult with the actress' court-appointed attorney on any major financial decisions.

In May, Bynes was arrested for allegedly throwing a marijuana bong from a window of her 36th-floor Manhattan apartment. Police had come to the building to investigate a complaint that she had been smoking marijuana in the lobby.

Last year, she was charged in Los Angeles with driving on a suspended license. The license had been suspended after she was charged with driving under the influence and misdemeanor hit-and-run. She had pleaded not guilty in the DUI case.

[Associated Press; By ANTHONY McCARTNEY]

Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP.

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