Earlier this month, we reported that the pop star Katy Perry was facing major backlash for suing a dying 85 year-old veteran for his $15 million mansion. Now, the Hollywood star Chris Pratt has found himself being dragged into this extremely messy situation.
Perry’s Legal Battle Against ‘Dying’ Veteran
Perry, 40, is preparing to face off in court against the family of the 85 year-old disabled veteran Carl Westcott. Indeed, they are about to enter the second phase of their legal war after Westcott sold Perry, via her business manager Bernie Gudvi, his $15 million mansion in 2020.
Westcott, who suffers from the neurological disorder Huntington’s disease, changed his mind days later. Indeed, he tried to back out of this deal. He claimed that he hadn’t been in his right mind when he made the deal. Westcott alleged that he had been under the influence of pain medication following a recent surgery.
Perry, however, refused to let Westcott out of the deal. In December of 2023, a judge ruled in Perry’s favor, declaring her to be the rightful owner of the mansion in Santa Barbara, California.
Pratt Gets Involved
Pratt, 46, hasn’t been directly deposed or required to appear. However, he could end up bolstering Perry’s claim for funds owed after the sale, according to attorney Christopher C. Melcher.
“Westcott’s defense is that the home could not have had mold and other major issues because Perry rented the place to Chris Pratt,” Melcher told Fox News. “But repairs could have been made by Perry before renting the home to Pratt.”
“If so, the subsequent condition of the home when Pratt was a tenant is not relevant to what the home looked like when Perry got the keys,” he continued.
Just after the sale was made, Westcott sought a rescission of contract after claiming he “lacked capacity” to sign the transaction due to a recent surgery and brain disorder. In November of 2023, however, a judge ruled in Perry’s favor. She then took legal ownership of the home in May of 2024.
Pratt has since been residing in the Montecito mansion with his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, and their children. The Westcott family has named him as a witness in their case. They want a judge to question Pratt on the “condition” of the home. They also want Pratt to be asked about any issues with the terms of his lease with Perry.
“Now, just before the Phase 2 Trial, there is new, never-before disclosed evidence that Perry has rented out the Westcott Property to the actor Chris Pratt and his wife (the daughter of Maria Shriver, who the Court will recall from Cristal Clarke’s Phase 1 Trial testimony was bidding against Perry in 2020 to buy the Westcott Property, which is why Perry increased her original $13.5 offer to Westcott to the agreed-on $15 million price),” read court documents that were filed at the end of July.
Perry Preparing To Testify
Perry is preparing to take the stand in the six-day, non-jury trial this month. The singer is fighting for $6 million in damages. This includes an additional $2 million for damages to the property. In requesting these damages, Perry is citing structural defects, deferred maintenance, and lost rental income.
“The $2.29 million in estimated repairs was bogus and Perry was able to rent the Westcott Property as-is to Chris Pratt (for what some have rumored to be $150,000 in rent just for this summer),” the court documents state.
The Westcott family also want Perry’s ex-boyfriend Orlando Bloom to take the stand. They broke up earlier this year after nine years and one child together. The judge, however, wasn’t having any of this request.
“Why do we need Mr. Bloom to (give testimony), other than making this a celebrity circus?” the judge said during one hearing.
At the time of this writing, it’s unclear if Pratt will take the stand. A source told The Sun that Westcott’s lawyer recently returned to court ahead of a “likely attempt to subpoena Pratt because he is a material witness.”
“For example, to establish when he started renting? He is living in a property that is wrapped up in a legal battle,” the insider continued. The source added that the Westcott family “want to know how much Pratt is renting the house for.”
“Perry has claimed millions of dollars in damages, and claimed that it’s not liveable – it’s clearly liveable because an A-list actor is renting it,” said the insider.
Pratt has yet to comment publicly on this. Only time will tell if he ends up having to testify!