Pop superstar Katy Perry, 40, was in court Tuesday to testify in her $6 million lawsuit against 85 year-old veteran Carl Westcott, who sold her a $15 million mansion in Montecito in 2020
Katy Perry is ready for a new mission following her jaunt to space in April. The newly single star is on a quest for ‘justice’ as her legal case against a dying veteran continues.
Speaking in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday, the mum-of-one claimed that she is not just after monetary compensation in her lawsuit over a $15 million mansion in the exclusive Montecito, CA, she’s also seeking justice.
When questioned if she stands to “gain money or anything else from the outcome of this litigation,” Katy replied: “Yes…..justice. I stand to lose money if it does not work in my favour.”
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The Roar hitmaker, 40, was testifying via video at LA Superior Court on the fourth day of a trial where she’s seeking millions from terminally ill veteran Carl Westcott, 85, for back rent and damage repairs to the enormous home she purchased from him five years ago.
During 55 minutes of testimony, Katy – who recently split from British actor Orlando Bloom – told the court that she already owned three other houses in the Santa Barbara area when she agreed to pay $15 million cash for Mr Wescott’s home in July 2020, using her business manager, Bernie Gudvi as her agent.
Just days after signing the contract, Mr Westcott – who suffers from an incurable brain disorder – attempted to back out of the deal, claiming he was under the influence of painkillers when he signed.
However, Katy and her now-ex fiancé, film star Orlando, contested him, insisting that they wanted to keep the 9,000 sq. ft. home and raise their daughter Daisy, who turned five on Tuesday, the day her mother testified in court.
Mr Westcott launched a legal battle to void the sales contract, but after nearly four years in court, the famous duo won their case to keep the 1930s estate located 100 miles north of LA, where other celebrity residents include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Oprah Winfrey, Ariana Grande, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Shortly after securing the keys to the house, Katy and Orlando returned to court, this time seeking $6 million from Westcott, alleging nearly $2.5 million in damages to the sprawling, 2.5-acre property and the $3.5 million in back rent she could have charged during her lengthy legal fight. Katy’s lawyers later reduced their damages claim to $1.3 million, knocking $1.2 million off the bill.
During her testimony on Tuesday, Katy confessed that by the time the title to the property was transferred in 2024, the listed owner of the house was an LLC company controlled by her now-ex Orlando.
Responding to a suggestion from Mr Westcott’s lawyer Andrew Thomas that it was Orlando who forked out some $5 million for repairs and renovations to the house, she stated she had a role in the project as “Orlando’s partner and advisor”.
When asked by Thomas, “Do you have any financial stake of any kind in the outcome of this litigation,” Katy responded: “My financial stake could be lost money, lawyers fees, lost rental income – all of the above.”
Mr Westcott has so far paid nine million of the original $15 million purchase price for the mansion, and when Thomas asked Katy, “Someone is going to have to pay the other $6 million. Who will that be?” She responded, “It could be a combination of Orlando and I. We are family for life.”
When Thomas questioned the mum-of-one about whether she discovered during her legal disputes with Westcott that he had ‘ended up in a mental institution’, Katy’s lawyer, Eric Rowen, strongly objected, stating that Westcott’s health was ‘completely irrelevant’ to the case. Judge Joseph Lipner concurred and sustained the objection.
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