Katy Perry to testify in court after seeking $6M in real estate legal battle with dying veteran's family
MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA: Singer-songwriter Katy Perry will face off against the family of the dying veteran who was compelled to relinquish his Montecito estate to her, in a contentious courtroom confrontation.
This occurred during Perry and Orlando Bloom's legal battle over a 1930s Montecito mansion, which has been under scrutiny in a non-jury trial since 2023.
Katy Perry to testify in court after asking $6M from dying veteran homeowner
The 84-year-old multimillionaire Carl Westcott, the founder of 1-800-FLOWERS, sold Perry and her fiance Orlando Bloom a $15 million property in July 2020.
However, Westcott tried to back out of the agreement soon after by filing a lawsuit, arguing that he was not mentally competent when he sold the land, per Daily Express.
In 2023, Perry, aged 39, was declared the rightful owner of the gated 1930s mansion, featuring amenities such as a tennis court, two guesthouses, and a swimming pool, after a judge affirmed the contract's validity.
The 'Firework' singer ultimately prevailed in her case before Judge Joseph Lipner, who awarded her the property based on evidence from "medical reports" and "witness testimony," demonstrating that Westcott was of sound mind when he signed the contract.
Perry continues to pursue approximately $6 million from the estate, claiming that the bedridden octogenarian, who has been under hospice care for Huntington's disease, owes her a significant amount for lost rental income and repairs.
The former 'American Idol' judge will, however, be required to appear in a California court in July to present her case against Westcott and his family.
Members of Westcott's family, including Chart and Court Westcott (the latter married to former 'Real Housewives of Dallas' star Kameron Westcott), will be present during the hearing.
Dedicated to Perry's three-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom, the expansive 9,285-square-foot compound in the Santa Ynez foothills has been registered under the owner DDoveB since May.
Perry has set aside $9 million in escrow to compensate Westcott, a prominent veteran of the US Army's 101st Airborne Division who comes from a financially disadvantaged family in Mississippi.
Westcott family blasts Katy Perry for her obscene behavior
The 'Firework' singer faced criticism from a close family member of the Westcotts for her alleged exploitative behavior towards an elderly individual for her own benefit.
At an upcoming damages trial, Perry will testify before Westcott's upset relatives, who assert that the prolonged legal battle has tarnished their beloved patriarch's final days.
"It's clearly apparent that she's trying to squeeze every last dollar out of Carl's family without any shred of empathy at the expense of an elderly man's legacy," a close Westcott family friend told Daily Mail.
"The fact is the Westcott family wants her to face them because they believe they deserve that. She's taken their father's house and now she wants the shirt off his back."
The source added, "The least she can do is look them all in the eye while she does it."
The outlet claimed that Perry hired 25 construction specialists to inspect the residence for various faults, which resulted in her court appearance being postponed.
Judge Lipner requested that Perry attend the hearing, despite her statement on June 20 that she intended to rely solely on professional testimony as a witness.
"As I sit right here this minute I definitely expect Ms Perry to be a witness," Lipner said.
