Katy Perry is set to receive $1.8million (£1.3million) from a disabled war veteran following a lengthy legal row.
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The ongoing dispute stems from Perry and her ex-partner Orlando Bloom’s attempt to buy a mansion in Montecito, California in 2020 for $15million (£11.3million), from army veteran Carl Westcott, 86.
Westcott had moved into the home two months before the couple bought the estate, according to the Daily Mail. He then attempted to backtrack on the deal, alleging that he was incapacitated and under the influence of opioids and painkillers when he signed the paperwork.
This followed Westcott undergoing “a major six-hour surgery” that he claimed had “seriously impaired [his] mental faculties to the point he was of unsound mind and not competent to give his free, voluntary, or intelligent consent to the contract”.
A week after signing, Westcott said he began to feel “mentally clear again” after his surgery medication wore off, and that he no longer wanted to go through with the sale.
Perry and Bloom’s representative responded by offering Westcott an increased sum – more than what he had paid for the home – which he refused. They have been locked in a legal dispute ever since.
As Metro reports, Westcott has Huntington’s disease – an inherited condition that affects movement, thinking and mood – and suffers from other health issues.
A judge ruled in Perry’s favour in May 2024, stating that Westcott was of sound mind when the sale was completed. Westcott was said to have given “no persuasive evidence that he lacked capacity to enter into a real estate contract”. Therefore, it was ruled that the contract must be “respected”.
Now, in new court documents obtained by People, a ruling states that Perry is owed a total of $1,842,142.84 (£1,393,831.03).
This figure includes $2,795,000 (£2,113,581.37) for the rental value of the property during the delayed closing, minus the value of retained capital ($1,062,736/£803,518.75), and Westcott’s lost interest ($149,703.00/£113,193.43).
The judge also limited the cost of repairs during the delay period to $259,581.84 (£227,310.24), which is the exact amount Westcott had proposed previously.
Perry had initially claimed that the repairs equated to $1,343,401.95 (£1,019,628.91). She requested that Westcott pay an overall sum of $4,718,698.95 (£3,581,327.35) to cover the alleged damages and legal fees.
In addition, the judge said that concerning the initial $15million sale, Perry’s business manager Bernie Gudvi paid Westcott $9million and retained $6million of the purchase price. Gudvi can now deduct the $1.8million from the remaining $6million.
Gudvi will have a chance to challenge this ruling at a scheduled court hearing on December 30.
Over the summer, actor Chris Pratt was named as a potential witness in the case. It was reported at the time that he was currently renting and residing in the property with his family.
