Mr Shizawa had been "in love" with Spears, his lawyer said

Spears and two of her security guards had been sued by Masahiko Shizawa for causing him "extreme emotional distress" over an incident in 2002.

It followed a confrontation with the guards outside Spears' US home.

Last year Mr Shizawa was found guilty by a US court of stalking Spears and was ordered to stay 300m away from her.

After the case he filed his own lawsuit against the singer and her guards.

He also sued the city of Los Angeles for allegedly taking away his dignity during a search of his hotel room.

Intimidated

Sitting in Los Angeles, US District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper also removed a guard, Mike Zandi, as a defendant in the case. She let stand the claims against guard Robert Feggans.

Mr Shizawa, 43, of Yokohama, Japan, had claimed the two guards intimidated him outside Spears' home, and that Feggans pointed a gun at him.

Spears had sought a restraining order against the man in December 2002, saying he tried to contact her at two of her homes and her parents' house.

He had also allegedly sent photos of himself and notes saying "I'm chasing you".

His lawyer, Simon Hiller, had argued that he was a harmless, law-abiding citizen who was "in love" with Spears.