Katy Perry isn’t just fighting for hundreds of thousands in her bitter court battle over a $15 million Montecito mansion, but says what she really wants is justice.
The pop star, testifying via video before a Los Angeles court, made it clear that this case is about greater than money.
Her words have sparked outrage from the family of 85-year-old veteran Carl Westcott, who accuses Perry and her former fiancé, Orlando Bloom, of exploiting him while he was unwell.
With emotions running high, the trial has develop into probably the most heated celebrity-versus-citizen disputes in recent memory.
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Katy Perry Testifies She Wants ‘Justice’
During her 55-minute testimony, Perry repeatedly told the court that this case is about fairness.
When asked if she stood to realize anything from the final result, the singer responded firmly per the Each day Mail, “Yes… justice.”
The music icon appeared via video wearing a person’s gray striped dress shirt, sipping from a blue water bottle as she laid out her side of the story.
She explained that when she and Bloom bought the sprawling 9,000-square-foot estate in July 2020, she already owned three homes in Santa Barbara, but she wanted this one as a family retreat for his or her five-year-old daughter, Daisy.
Despite pushback from Carl, who tried to cancel the deal days later, Perry insisted she was entitled to maintain the house.
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She also said her financial stake includes “lost money, lawyer’s fees, and lost rental income.”
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The Genesis Of The Legal Battle Between Katy Perry And Carl Westcott
The fight began in 2020 when Carl, who suffers from Huntington’s disease, claimed he was under heavy pain medication after back surgery when he signed the sale contract.
He said he didn’t fully understand what he was agreeing to and tried to back out days later.
Nevertheless, the “Dark Horse” crooner and her ex pressed forward, using Perry’s business manager, Bernie Gudvi, to finalize the $15 million money deal.
Carl sued, saying the contract ought to be voided. Still, after nearly 4 years in court, the judge ruled in favor of the previous celebrity couple, declaring there was “no persuasive evidence” that the veteran lacked the capability to sign.
Still, Perry wasn’t done. She and Bloom then filed for hundreds of thousands in damages, claiming $2.5 million in repairs and $3.5 million in lost rent.
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That claim was later reduced to $1.3 million, however the Westcott family says even that quantity is outrageous.
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Westcott Family Slams Perry As ‘Greedy’
Carl’s children have been outspoken about what they see as Katy Perry’s lack of compassion.
His son, Chart Westcott, told the Each day Mail that the pop star is showing “entitled celebrity behavior” and “has no sense of fair play, no empathy, zero empathy.”
Chart said it’s a “miracle” that his father, now bedridden and in hospice care, has lived this long.
He blasted Perry’s demands for hundreds of thousands in repairs and lost rent as “absolutely egregious” and nothing greater than greed.
His brother, Court Westcott, called the five-year legal fight “devastating” for his or her family and said their father, once a successful businessman, is now too unwell even to know what’s happening.
“To go after someone at the tip of their life like that is heartless,” Court said, emphasizing that his father bought the home only two months before selling it to the 40-year-old, making the situation much more painful.
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More Details About The Mansion Dispute
The house at the middle of the battle is a Nineteen Thirties estate on 2.5 acres with a tennis court, pool, and two guesthouses.
Perry has argued that it required extensive repairs, including $1.1 million in basement work as a consequence of flooding and $225,000 for roof damage after an oak tree fell.
Despite initially saying she wanted the home as a family home, Perry can be claiming $3.5 million in lost rent, money she argues she could have earned while the legal fight dragged on.
To date, Carl has received $9 million of the $15 million purchase price. When asked who would cover the remaining $6 million, Perry said it could come from each her and Bloom, adding, “We’re family for all times.”
Bloom, who reportedly spent hundreds of thousands on repairs, is listed because the controlling owner through an LLC that took the title in 2024.
Judge Slams Katy Perry’s Lawyers For Trying To Sneak In Her Evidence
Perry’s testimony comes nearly every week after Judge Joseph Lipner lashed out at her legal team during her trial on August 21.
Lipner slammed her lawyers as “outrageous” after they attempted to fast-track the singer’s testimony, calling the move unfair and improper.
“It’s not nice, it’s unfair,” he warned in court per the Each day Mail, making clear that the singer’s celebrity status wouldn’t allow her side to bend the principles.
Perry was preparing to testify remotely when her attorneys’ last-minute scheduling maneuver triggered the judge’s rebuke.
He ordered Perry’s attorneys to reschedule her testimony to a later date when she’s available, which was eventually set for August 26.