Katy Perry secures ownership of $15M Montecito home after years-long legal battle with Carl Westcott, Internet calls it 'elder abuse'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Katy Perry has secured ownership of her Montecito, California residence after a prolonged legal dispute.

Property records indicate that the 39-year-old singer holds the Santa Barbara County property under the LLC DDoveB.

This resolution comes amid a legal entanglement involving Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom concerning a 1930s mansion in Montecito, which has been the subject of a non-jury trial since 2023.

Katy Perry and her partner Orlando Bloom planned to find a new residence

In July 2020, the narrative unfolded as Katy Perry and her partner, actor Orlando Bloom, sought a new residence in the Southern California enclave to accommodate their expanding family.

During this time, the 'Firework' singer was expecting their daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom as per People.

Handling Perry's affairs, her business manager, Bernie Gudvi, made a $15 million offer on a property, outbidding journalist and Kennedy descendant Maria Shriver in the process.

Entrepreneur Carl Westcott, the owner of the estate, initially accepted the off-market offer but later attempted to retract the sale. This led to reciprocal lawsuits between Perry and Westcott over ownership of the property, which boasts a pool and two guesthouses.

Situated on approximately 2.5 acres, the expansive 9,285-square-foot estate offers opulent features such as an infinity pool, jacuzzi, outdoor fireplace, kitchen area, and a three-bedroom guesthouse boasting picturesque ocean vistas.

What happened in Katy Perry’s trial?

Amid the legal battle, Westcott, who had been diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease in 2015, attempted to annul the agreement, citing mental incapacity. 

Consequently, Westcott filed a lawsuit against Perry’s business manager, Bernie Gudvi, in August 2020, leading to a trial commencing in late September 2023.

Following Westcott's lawsuit against Perry’s business manager, Bernie Gudvi, filed in August 2020, the case proceeded to trial in late September 2023. 

During the trial's opening statements, Andrew Thomas, Westcott's attorney, asserted that the 1-800-Flowers founder had exhibited signs of "delusion" and "intrusive thoughts" due to painkillers he had been prescribed after undergoing spinal surgery, which occurred before the sale of his home. 

Thomas further claimed that Westcott had regained mental clarity approximately a week after the surgery and had informed the brokerage representing Gudvi that he was not in a suitable mental state to enter into any binding contracts. 

Despite these assertions, the lawsuit ultimately received a preliminary ruling in Perry's favor in November 2023. 

The court's decision at the time stated, "Westcott presented no persuasive evidence that he lacked capacity to enter into a real estate contract." 

According to a stipulation filed in April 2024, the court issued a "Final Statement of Decision" in December 2023, affirming that "Gudvi is entitled to specific performance of the real estate." 

Additionally, the document indicates that a trial concerning "Gudvi’s entitlement to damages and/or other remedies" is scheduled for July.

Internet questions Katy Perry for engaging in legal battle with elderly man

Following the news of Katy Perry securing ownership amid a legal dispute with an elderly man, many online users have criticized her, accusing her of being cruel in obtaining the mansion from him.

One said, “She has so much, yet Perry feels the need to enter into these grey real estate transactions…  Why? The money involved is chump change to her… I hope she gets her comeuppance sooner than later.”

Another dubbed it as, “Elder abuse. When he changed his mind within days, not months, it should have been respected. The man is obviously unwell, then to add this horrible stress of taking away his beloved home is just cruel.”

A third user added, “Heaven may not be her final destination," as per New York Post.

A fourth user claimed, “Why does Perry keep getting into legal battles over real estate, threatening ailing, elderly people and elderly displaced nuns? Going after the vulnerable and confused. Coveting and scheming."

A fifth questioned, “How many mansions does a pop star need???”

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.