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. On Tuesday, Perry testified in court regarding this case. There, she finally revealed what’s fueling her legal battle against this elderly veteran.
Perry Takes The Stand
When asked in a Los Angeles court if she stands to “gain money or anything else from the outcome of this litigation,” Perry immediately replied, “Yes…..justice.”
“I stand to lose money if it does not work in my favor,” she continued.
Perry, 40, testified via video at LA Superior Court on day four of this trial. During her testimony, Perry wore a man’s gray striped dress shirt. Her iconic dark hair was seen tumbling down to her shoulders as she testified.
Perry is embroiled in a bitter legal battle with the 85 year-old disabled veteran Carl Westcott. It all started in 2020, when the elderly veteran sold Perry his $15 million mansion in 2020 via her business manager Bernie Gudvi.
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.
Now, Perry is seeking up to $4.8 million in damages from Westcott. This includes an additional $2 million for damages to the property, citing structural defects, deferred maintenance, and lost rental income.
The judge has split their non-jury trial into two parts. The damages part of it took place last year. The penalty phase began last week.
Perry’s Testimony Continues
Perry frequently sipped from a blue water bottle during her 55 minutes of testimony. She told the court that she already owned three other houses in the Santa Barbara area when she agreed to pay Westcott $15 million in cash.
Though Westcott indeed changed his mind days later, Perry and her then-fiancee Orlando Bloom fought him, saying that they wanted to raise their daughter Daisy in the 9,000-sq ft home. Daisy turned 5 yesterday, the same day that Perry testified.
“Do you have any financial stake of any kind in the outcome of this litigation?” Andrew Thomas, Westcott’s attorney, asked Perry while she was on the stand.
“My financial stake could be lost money, lawyers’ fees, lost rental income – all of the above,” she replied.
As of today, Westcott has reportedly received $9 million of the $15 million original purchase price of the mansion.
“Someone is going to have to pay the other $6 million,” Thomas pointed out. “Who will that be?”
“It could be a combination of Orlando and I,” Perry responded. “We are family for life.”
Perry and Bloom, an actor best known for his roles in the Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, broke up in June after nine years together. They have appeared to be on amicable terms in the months since then as they co-parent their young daughter together.
In one tense moment, Thomas asked Perry if she’s aware that Westcott has “ended up in a mental institution” amidst their legal battle. Before she could answer, Perry’s lawyer Eric Rowen objected, saying that this was “was completely irrelevant” to the case. The judge agreed with Rowen and the testimony continued.
Westcott’s Family Fires Back
Westcott’s family members have been outspoken about their view that Perry, who is worth $350 million, is targeting their ailing father over “greed.” They’ve also called out the “Hollywood elite system” that they believe allows celebrities like Perry to “treat ordinary people like dirt.”
“It’s entitled celebrity behavior,” said Westcott’s 40 year-old son Chart. “She has no sense of fair play, no empathy, zero empathy, quite the opposite.”
Chart went on to say that it’s a “miracle” that his bedridden father has “survived longer than we ever expected.” Westcott is in hospice care, with his son saying that he is in “horrible condition.”
Chart told Daily Mail that this legal battle has been “devastating” for his father in his final years.
“My dad has been bedridden for years,” he lamented. “He’s at the end of his life. He’s not really aware of what’s happening at this point with his condition. But we are looking forward to closure on this.”
Meanwhile, Perry has bought another house nearby in Montecito. She’s rented out Westcott’s former home to the Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt and his wide Katherine Schwarzenegger. They are currently living there with their three children.
Perry’s testimony marked the first time that the public has heard her speak about this case. Only time will tell how it turns out for her.