Katy Perry reveals she’s seeking ‘justice’ during testimony in trial over $15 million mansion

In a hearing at a Los Angeles court on Tuesday, Katy Perry expressed that beyond monetary compensation, she is pursuing justice in her legal dispute over a luxury property worth $15 million in the upscale Montecito neighborhood of California.

Upon being questioned about potential financial benefits or other advantages stemming from this court case, Perry affirmed, ‘Yes, indeed, justice is what I stand to gain.’

‘I stand to lose money if it does not work in my favor.’

The 40-year-old female vocalist, dressed in a gray striped shirt commonly worn by men and sporting dark hair cascading to her shoulders, provided testimony via video link at the LA Superior Court on day four of a trial where she aims to recover millions from Carl Westcott, an 85-year-old veteran nearing his end, for unpaid rent and property damage costs related to a large house she purchased from him five years ago.

For approximately 55 minutes, while frequently taking sips from a blue metal water bottle, Perry testified in court that prior to purchasing Wescott’s house in Santa Barbara for $15 million in cash in July 2020, she already owned three other homes in the area. She used her business manager, Bernie Gudvi, as her agent in this transaction.

Shortly following the agreement’s execution, Westcott, dealing with a persistent brain condition, attempted to rescind the deal, asserting that he had been affected by painkillers during the signing process.

However, Perry and her former partner, renowned actor Orlando Bloom, contested this decision, expressing their wish to retain their 9,000 sq ft residence and nurture their daughter, Daisy, aged five, who celebrated her birthday on the very day her mother provided testimony in court.

Westcott initiated a legal action aiming to nullify the sales contract, however, following a prolonged court battle spanning nearly four years, they successfully retained ownership of the 1930s estate located approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Notable residents in the vicinity include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Oprah Winfrey, Ariana Grande, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Following their victory in obtaining the house keys, she along with Bloom returned to court for a second time. This visit aimed at suing Westcott for approximately $6 million, arguing that they were entitled to nearly $2.5 million in repairs and improvements on the expansive 2.5-acre property, as well as the potential rental income of around $3.5 million during their prolonged legal battle. Later, Perry’s lawyers revised their damages claim down to $1.3 million, thereby lowering the original amount by approximately $1.2 million.

In her testimony on Tuesday, Perry acknowledged that as of 2024, when the property ownership was changed, the house’s official owner had become a Limited Liability Company (LLC) owned and managed by Bloom.

In response to a proposal by attorney Andrew Thomas on behalf of Westcott, suggesting that Bloom was the one who spent around $5 million on fixing and updating their home, she clarified that she played a part in the endeavor as ‘a partner and advisor’ to Orlando.

In response to Thomas’ question about my potential financial interest in the lawsuit, I confessed that it could mean losing money, paying hefty legal bills, and even missing out on rental earnings – you name it! As a deeply invested fan (of justice, that is), I can’t help but feel all those effects personally.

To date, Westcott has received a sum of $9 million from the initial $15 million price of the mansion. Thomas inquired from Perry, “It seems someone needs to cover the remaining $6 million. Who do you think that would be?

She answered, ‘It could be a combination of Orlando and I. We are family for life.’

When Thomas queried Perry about whether she discovered during her legal battles with Westcott that he had been institutionalized for mental health reasons, Eric Rowen, Westcott’s attorney, strongly opposed, arguing that his wellbeing was unrelated to the case at hand. Judge Joseph Lipner concurred and sustained the objection.

Perry has come under fire from Wescott’s family members for going after their ailing patriarch.

People express their indignation towards the perceived excessive wealth of the pop star, valued at approximately $350 million, and critique the Hollywood celebrity culture they believe permits stars such as her to treat regular people with disrespect.

Carl’s son, Chart Westcott (age 39), stated that her actions resemble those of a celebrity, implying a lack of sportsmanship and compassion. He further emphasized that she demonstrates absolutely no understanding or concern for others, quite to the contrary.

The chart stated that it was nothing short of remarkable that, despite being in a critical condition under hospice care due to Huntington’s disease, his bedridden father had managed to live far beyond what anyone had anticipated.

He strongly disagrees with the large sum Perry is asking for the unrealized rental income and necessary repairs on the property, a grand estate that includes a tennis court, two guest houses, and a swimming pool.

Chart asserted that the damages being pursued are ‘extremely excessive,’ he stated, being the brother of Kameron Westcott, a star on Real Housewives of Dallas who is married to Court. ‘There’s no genuine reason other than avarice,’ he added. ‘This issue seems insignificant – I believe it’s an issue of privilege.’

46-year-old Court Westcott disclosed to DailyMail.Com that the five-year-long legal dispute with Perry has taken a heavy toll on his father, causing immense distress.

He mentioned that his father has been confined to bed for quite some time now. It seems like he’s approaching the final stages of his life. At this moment, he doesn’t appear to be fully conscious about his situation, but we’re anticipating a resolution regarding his health condition.

As a dedicated follower, I’d rephrase it as:

I, along with a team of over a dozen specialists, meticulously inspected the property, uncovering numerous issues that needed attention. The most significant problem was extensive damage to the basement caused by flooding due to a water leak, which required an estimated $1.1 million in repairs. Additionally, our assessment revealed that a guest cottage/poolhouse had sustained damage when an oak tree fell on it, necessitating approximately $225,000 for repairs.

She’s requesting an additional $3.5 million in unrealized rental income from the luxurious getaway, given the potential returns it would have generated, even though she mentioned during the sale that the property was intended to provide a home for her daughter Daisy instead of generating income.

Westcott, an experienced member of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, hailed from a humble family in Mississippi who struggled financially. However, he later relocated to Los Angeles and amassed his wealth by establishing several thriving businesses, one of which is the well-known company 1-800-Flowers.

After he argued that powerful medication and poor health affected his decision-making when he agreed to sell on July 15, 2020, a heated disagreement arose between him and Perry.

In May of that particular year, he acquired the house. He moved in about two months before his transactions with Gudvi, Perry’s business manager, who consented to pay Westcott a sum of $3,750,000 above what he had recently paid for the property.

Four days ago, the 80-year-old was released from the hospital after undergoing a six-hour spinal surgery. His legal team stated that he was currently taking a strong medication for pain management due to the procedure.

After the effect of the medication subsided, Westcott acknowledged that he had erred and chose not to proceed with the sale anymore.

According to his legal team, due to his advanced age, ongoing health issues related to his back, the recovery from recent surgery, and frequent use of painkillers, Mr. Westcott’s mental state had become unstable.

However, Perry and Bloom remained determined in their endeavor to acquire the mansion and sought legal action, employing Gudvi as a representative for their case. Eventually, Westcott’s relatives stepped forward to champion his cause after he was confined to bed and lost mental capacity due to Huntington’s disease, a condition that impacts the brain and may lead to progressive dementia.

Originally, the well-known pair, who parted ways in June following nine years of companionship, successfully defended their initial lawsuit. This triumph came about when Judge Lipner decided that there wasn’t any compelling proof indicating that Westcott was unable to legally sign the agreement.

In the judge’s final statement, it was confirmed that there’s no reason to cancel the contract. Instead, the focus shifts to upholding the agreement, with the remaining question being the determination of damages – which essentially means deciding whether Perry gets a discount and, if so, how much.

Amidst her ongoing legal dispute with Westcott, Perry purchased a high-end property nearby in Montecito. More recently, she has leased the Westcott residence to actor Chris Pratt, his spouse Katherine, and their three kids.

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2025-08-27 05:34