After superstar singer Katy Perry made headlines — for suing a reported “dying disabled” veteran for $5 million in damages amid their years-long legal battle over a $15 million Montecito, California mansion — PEOPLE reports that as of Tuesday (November 25), a court has ordered the vet to pay her $1.8 million.
In July 2020, Katy Perry, 41, and her actor husband Orlando Bloom, 48, purchased the 1930s mansion for $15 million. Perry and Bloom initially bought the home for their family, including their 5-year-old daughter Daisy Dove. The home boasts 8 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms with a three-bedroom guesthouse overlooking the ocean. The estate, which sits on 2.5 acres, also includes an infinity pool, jacuzzi, and outdoor fireplace, plus more amenities.
Days after Perry and Bloom signed the deal, the previous owner, former army serviceman and 1-800-Flowers founder Carl Westcott, 84, tried to back out of and rescind it, claiming mental incapacity. Reportedly, in 2015 he was diagnosed with a genetic brain disorder, known as Huntington’s Disease.
Westcott’s attempt to revoke the deal resulted in a years-long legal battle over the multi-million-dollar home. Despite the ongoing legal battle, Perry and Bloom gained ownership of the $15 million mansion on May 17, 2024. However, it is unclear if they ever moved into the home. Sources told PEOPLE that the couple began renting out the property in February 2025.
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Still determined to revoke the sale of the property, Westcott filed a lawsuit against Perry’s business manager, Bernie Gudvi in August 2020. However, by the end of 2023, a judge ruled that there was no “persuasive evidence” to support Westcott’s claims. Addressing Westcott’s “mental incapacity” claim, the judge found that he appeared to be “coherent, engaged, lucid and rational.”
In November 2023, Perry’s attorney, Eric Rowen, shared a statement with PEOPLE about the judge’s decision:
“Today’s proposed decision is clear — the judge found that Mr. Westcott could not prove anything other than he was of perfectly sound mind when he engaged in complex negotiations over several weeks with multiple parties to transact a lucrative sale of the property that netted him a substantial profit. The evidence shows that Mr. Westcott breached the contract for no other reason than he had changed his mind. We look forward to wrapping this matter up at the scheduled damage trial phase set for February 13 and 14, if not before.”
Meanwhile, Westcott’s son, Chart Westcott, told PEOPLE:
“While we do not agree with Judge Lipner’s ruling and wish he had spelled our father’s name correctly in his ruling, we accept it. Katy Perry will now have to testify, in person, on damages and the contradictory claims she has made over lost income for the rental of my father’s home. While this has been a long road, the fight for my father is not over and we will continue to represent him and his legacy of incredible achievements.”
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Katy Perry Wins $1.8M After Suing ‘Dying Disabled’ Veteran For $5M Amid Years-Long Legal Battle Over $15M California Mansion
In the latest leg of the legal battle, PEOPLE reported that Perry recently requested for nearly $5 million in damages. In documents dated November 21, the “Hot N Cold” singer alleged she lost “$3,525,000 in rental value” during the dispute, in addition to “$1,343,401.95 for necessary repairs” to restore the property, “for a total of $4,868,401.95.” According to New York Post, Perry also requested $3 million in legal fees.
According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Judge Joseph Lipner of the Superior Court of the State of California in Los Angeles County handed down a ruling on Tuesday (November 25). Judge Lipner determined that Westcott owes Perry a total of $1,842,142.84.
PEOPLE reports:
“The amount includes $2,795,000 for the rental value of the property during the delayed closing (from the date of the sale in September 2020 through the stipulated cutoff date of March 31, 2024), minus the value of retained capital ($1,062,736) and Westcott’s lost interest ($149,703.00). The judge also limited the cost of repairs during the delay period to $259,581.84, the exact amount Westcott had previously proposed.”
Judge Lipner also noted that Perry’s business manager, Bernie Gudvi, paid Westcott $9 million and retained $6 million of the purchase price. The judge advised Gudvi to deduct the $1.8 million from the remaining $6 million. Perry’s business manager is also responsible for preparing the judgment. Additionally, a hearing to contest the judgment is scheduled for December 30.
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