A Los Angeles judge has ruled that Katy Perry’s company must receive $1.84 million in damages from a long-running fight over a $15 million mansion in Montecito, California. The case pitted the pop star against an elderly disabled veteran and highlighted risks in big-money real estate deals.
Deal Goes Sour in 2020
Katy Perry and her former fiancé Orlando Bloom agreed to buy the luxurious Montecito estate from Carl Westcott in June 2020. The 1930s-era property spans over 9,000 square feet, with eight bedrooms, a tennis court, pool, and two guesthouses nestled in the Santa Ynez foothills. Westcott, an 85-year-old veteran and founder of 1-800-Flowers, signed the contract between June 10 and 18 after negotiations handled by Perry’s business manager.
Days later, he tried to back out, blaming painkillers from recent back surgery and his Huntington’s disease diagnosis for clouding his judgment. What started as a straightforward sale spiraled into years of courtroom drama, leaving the mansion empty while lawyers battled.
Fight Over Westcott’s Mindset
The heart of the dispute centered on whether Westcott had the mental sharpness to agree to the deal. His lawyers claimed his age, frailty, heavy opioid use, and the brain-deteriorating Huntington’s disease—diagnosed in 2015, made the contract invalid. Perry’s side fired back with emails, negotiation logs, and witness statements proving Westcott actively participated right up to signing.
Judges pored over medical records and timelines for years, demanding proof of his exact state during those key days in June 2020. The case exposed how health issues can snag high-end property sales, forcing courts to weigh personal tragedies against legal obligations.
Judge Upholds the Sale
In December 2023, the court sided with Perry, ruling Westcott could not prove he lacked capacity when he signed. This cleared the way for her LLC, actually tied to Orlando Bloom’s company DDoveB, named after their daughter, to take ownership in May 2024, nearly four years after closing.
Perry testified via Zoom in August 2025 that she sought justice, not profit, though she admitted financial stakes since she and Bloom split but remain family. The property sat unused through the delays, racking up potential losses as Perry’s team eyed rental income from Montecito’s elite market. With title settled, attention shifted to money lost from the holdup.
Damages Cover Losses and Fixes
Perry sued in November 2025 for almost $5 million, citing over $3.5 million in missed rent, based on $25,000 to $50,000 monthly rates for similar luxury homes, and $1.3 million in repairs for neglect, deferred upkeep, and damage during the stall. From mid-2020 to March 2024, the mansion deteriorated without access, despite full payment upfront. Judge Joseph Lipner awarded $1.84 million on November 25, 2025, including $2.795 million in rental value offset by Westcott’s retained funds ($1.06 million) and lost interest ($150,000), plus $260,000 for verified repairs, matching Westcott’s own estimate. The ruling trimmed Perry’s bolder claims but acknowledged real harm from the 5.5-year ordeal.
This clash drew sharp public divides. Westcott’s family called Perry’s pursuit exhausting and empathy-free amid his worsening illness, while supporters saw it as enforcing a valid deal. California law sets a high bar: serious health woes alone don’t cancel contracts without clear proof of incapacity at signing. For aging sellers, the verdict urges safeguards like family checks or capacity tests in big transactions.
Wealthy buyers in spots like Montecito now eye tighter escrows and clauses to dodge delay costs that can hit millions. As Perry and Bloom, who bought a nearby $14.2 million home, move on, the case may steer future disputes at the crossroads of health, wealth, and real estate timing.
Sources:
“Katy Perry Poised to Recover $1.8 Million in Montecito Mansion War.” Rolling Stone, 26 Nov 2025.
“Court Rules Katy Perry Is Owed $1.8 Million in Damages for Lost Rental Income at Montecito Mansion.” Yahoo Entertainment, 26 Nov 2025.