Katy Perry’s legal victory as judge orders disabled veteran to pay singer nearly $2m over Montecito mansion
A judge has awarded Katy Perry nearly $2 million in damages in her legal battle against disabled retiree Carl Westcott over the $15 million Montecito home she bought from him five years ago.
The 41-year-old singer and business founder of 1-800-Flowers have been fighting since 2020 for the eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom home in the upscale neighborhood, whose residents include Meghan Markle and Oprah Winfrey.
Within days of agreeing to sell the property to Perry, Westcott tried to back out of the deal, claiming he was inactive due to painkillers when he signed the paperwork.
But the judge presiding over the case in Los Angeles concluded in May 2024 that Westcott was sane and had presented ‘no convincing evidence that he was not capable of entering into a real estate contract’.
According to court documents obtained, the final verdict states that the Roar hitmaker owes $1,842,142.84. People.
A judge has awarded Katy Perry nearly $2 million in damages in her legal battle against disabled retiree Carl Westcott over the $15 million Montecito home she bought from him five years ago.
The legal battle over the house dates back to 2020, when the 41-year-old singer purchased the home from 1-800-Flowers founder Westcott; but within days, he tried to back out of the deal, claiming he was incapacitated when he signed the paperwork due to painkillers.
The agreed upon amount was arrived at by deducting the value of the retained equity (over $1 million) along with Westcott’s forfeited interest (approximately $150,000) from the rental value the property had accumulated during the delayed closing period (over $2.7 million).
In addition, the judge reduced the amount of repairs Perry requested to $259,581.84; this figure was a figure previously suggested by Westcott.
Regarding the $15 million sale, the judge noted that Perry’s business manager, Bernie Gudvi, paid Westcott $9 million for the purchase and kept $6 million of the purchase price for himself. Gudvi can now raise $1.8 million from the remaining $6 million.
Gudvi was also given the task of preparing the verdict. A hearing where he can appeal the decision has been set for Dec. 30, according to People.
While this was a victory for Perry, he didn’t get exactly what he claimed he was owed in legal documents he filed a few days ago.
The singer asked the court to force Westcott to pay $4,718,698.95 to account for damages he said were caused by the protracted litigation over the sale of the real estate.
The Roar artist’s lawyers said he was “entitled to $3,525,000 in rent,” which he lost due to a protracted legal battle with Westcott.
They also demanded that the veteran pay him ‘a total of $4,868,401.95, including $1,343,401.95 for necessary repairs.
Perry’s attorneys argued that the final amount was $4,718,698.95 after deducting $149,703 for losses suffered by Westcott.
The judge ruled in Perry’s favor in May 2024, finding that Westcott (pictured with his son Chart) was sane and ‘has not presented convincing evidence that he is not capable of entering into a real estate contract’.
Perry said in court documents filed on Nov. 21 that Westcott was responsible for the money lost in rent, as well as repairs he needed to make to the mansion, according to legal documents reviewed by the Daily Mail.
Westcott’s attorneys said that from a financial standpoint, Perry actually owes money.
Westcott’s attorneys said Perry owes Westcott $6 million of the $15 million he agreed to pay for the property.
Westcott’s attorney said in legal documents filed Nov. 7 in Los Angeles that Perry paid only $9 million.
His legal team said Westcott would agree to reduce the cost of repairs to reduce the amount to $5,740,418.18.
In August, Perry testified to a Los Angeles County court via Zoom that he purchased the 2.5-acre property.
Judge Joseph Lipner of the California State Supreme Court in Los Angeles County concluded that the Roar singer owed $1,842,142.84.
Westcott’s attorney, Andrew J. Thomas, asked Perry whether he was in a position to ‘make money or anything else from the outcome of this case.’
The singer said, ‘Yes… justice; If this doesn’t work in my favor, I stand to lose money.’
Perry, who bought the Westcott home with her then-boyfriend Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares daughter Daisy, is currently romantically involved with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
