Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom spared by judge from awkward ‘celebrity circus’ reunion in real estate showdown with 85-year-old veteran

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To prevent a chaotic spectacle similar to a circus, a judge in Los Angeles intervened on Friday and spared the newly separated pair, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, from having an uncomfortable, mandated encounter later this month.

At age 48, Bloom was summoned as a witness to provide testimony during a court case involving his former fiancee’s legal dispute with 85-year-old war veteran Carl Westcott. The dispute centers around a $15 million mansion that she purchased from him.

However, during a court hearing on Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Lipner granted Johnny Depp, previously involved with Amber Heard for nine years before their separation in June, immunity from testifying at the trial set to commence on August 21st.

Westcott’s legal representative, Andrew Thomas, argued before the court that Bloom should testify as he served as the ‘representative of the owner,’ overseeing the repair work carried out by building contractors at the contested 9,000 square-foot house, which Perry, aged 40, is seeking substantial damages for.

As a committed follower, I would express it as follows: The honorable Judge Lipner dismissed my contention, explaining that he required the statements of the contractors alone, and posed a question: ‘Why should Mr. Bloom testify, other than turning this into a celebrity spectacle?’

The judge mandated that Perry must physically attend the court trial. However, he specified that her testimony and cross-examination would not exceed a maximum duration of two hours.

In 2020, Westcott, a person afflicted with an incurable brain condition, consented to part with his 1930s mansion located in the celebrity-filled Montecito area, for a price of $15 million, to Perry.

However, only a few days after the agreement, he attempted to withdraw from it, stating that he had been affected by painkillers when he put his signature on it.

Perry and her former partner Bloom, parents of a four-year-old girl named Daisy Dove, took legal action against Westcott. Following a lengthy court dispute that lasted nearly four years, they successfully defended their claim to retain the spacious coastal property. Notable personalities like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Oprah Winfrey, Ariana Grande, and Gwyneth Paltrow also reside in this seaside town.

After securing access to the house following his victory, the singer returned to court for a second time. This time, he was requesting $6 million from Westcott, arguing that he was entitled to approximately $2.5 million in property damages and an additional $3.5 million in unpaid rent during the prolonged legal battle.

Perry, currently attempting to make Westcott shoulder her approximate $3 million in legal expenses, has drawn criticism from members of his family due to her pursuit of their struggling matriarch or head of the family.

As a lifestyle expert, I find myself expressing shared sentiments with many when I observe the wealth amassed by certain pop stars, such as this one estimated at $350 million. It’s hard not to feel dismayed when they seem to treat everyday folks with disregard, all while benefiting from a system that often favors the Hollywood elite.

‘It’s entitled celebrity behavior,’ Carl’s son Chart Westcott, 39, said. 

‘She has no sense of fair play, no empathy, zero empathy, quite the opposite.’

As an overjoyed and devoted son, I can’t help but marvel at the wonder of it all. My dad, in a state that’s far from ideal given his hospice care for Huntington’s disease, has managed to endure longer than anyone could have anticipated. It’s nothing short of a testament to his resilience and strength.

He strongly argues against the large sum that Perry is asking for the lost rental earnings and property repairs, given the estate’s amenities such as a tennis court, two cottages, and a swimming pool.

Chart stated that the requested compensation is “extremely outrageous,” he added, being the brother-in-law of Kameron Westcott, a cast member on The Real Housewives of Dallas.

The only plausible reason seems to be selfishness, as this issue is quite insignificant but still causing concern. It appears that the concern stems from a position of privilege.

Perry enlisted over a dozen specialists to thoroughly inspect the house for problems, asserting that the property required numerous repairs due to water damage, a fallen oak tree affecting the guest cottage or pool house, and various other maintenance concerns that accumulated during the prolonged wait to relocate since Westcott contested the sale.

Additionally, she is seeking compensation worth approximately $3.5 million for potential rental income she would have received from the upscale getaway, even though during the sale she expressed her intention of using the property to raise her daughter Daisy Dove, who will be turning five soon, rather than as a rental property.

Thirty-seven individuals have been listed as potential witnesses for the forthcoming trial that doesn’t involve a jury, with an estimated duration of between seven and ten days.

In addition to both Court Westcott and Chart Westcott, several other witnesses on the list are experts who were retained by Perry to explain the deterioration of the mansion throughout the protracted legal dispute.

Westcott, who served in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne and hailed from a humble background in Mississippi, eventually settled in Los Angeles and amassed wealth by founding multiple thriving businesses, including 1-800-Flowers.

They found themselves embroiled in a heated argument following his assertion that strong medication and poor health had influenced his decision to sign the sale contract on July 15, 2020, which Perry contested.

In the throes of my fervor as a die-hard fan, I had only secured the keys to this sanctuary in May of that very year, moving in a scant two months before my life took an unexpected turn. The day I crossed paths with Bernie Gudvi, Perry’s manager, was nothing short of momentous, for he graciously agreed to part ways with a staggering $3,750,000 more than I had shelled out for this very property just a few months prior.

Four days after being released from the hospital at 80 years old, following a six-hour spinal surgery, he found himself signing various documents while under the influence of strong painkillers, as stated by his legal representatives.

Once the effects of the medicine subsided, Westcott acknowledged his error and chose not to proceed with the sale anymore.

In simpler terms, his lawyers stated that due to his advanced age, ongoing issues with his back, recent surgical procedures, and frequent use of painkillers, Mr. Westcott’s mental state had become questionable.

I was steadfast in my pursuit along with Perry and Bloom, as we set forth to claim ownership of the mansion. Later, when Westcott fell ill due to Huntington’s disease – a condition that ravages the brain and may lead to dementia – his family courageously took up the battle on his behalf, continuing the fight in his stead.

In the end, the well-known duo emerged victorious from their initial court case when Judge Lipner determined that no compelling proof existed suggesting Westcott was incapable of signing the agreement.

In summary, the judge decided that there’s no reason to cancel the contract, implying that it should be upheld as is. The question remaining is the matter of damages or compensation, specifically whether Perry should receive a reduction in costs or not.

In the midst of her legal battle with Westcott, Perry acquired another high-end residence nearby in Montecito. More recently, she leased the Westcott property to Chris Pratt, an actor from Guardians of the Galaxy, and his spouse, Katherine Schwarzenegger.

The revelation prompted Thomas, Westcott’s lawyer, to firmly rebut Perry’s excessive allegations regarding the damage to the house.

He inquired from the Daily Mail after the court hearing on Friday, “Given that the house seemed to require significant repairs, why was it suitable enough for Chris Pratt and his family to occupy it?

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2025-08-02 00:35