Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Secure Victory in Ongoing $15 Million Mansion Lawsuit

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom are close to resolving the legal dispute surrounding their $15 million Montecito house.

Based on legal documents acquired by We on November 8, the court deemed Carl Westcott's case against Perry to lack credibility and persuasiveness. Westcott failed to provide compelling evidence of his inability to enter into a real estate contract. The tentative ruling will likely be finalized in 10 days.

The trial's second phase is set for February 2024, during which Perry will provide testimony regarding her claimed losses. Following this, the judge will assess whether any damages are owed.

According to the paperwork, the juryless proceedings commenced on September 28. The bench trial will occur in two stages. In the initial phase, the judge will determine if Westcott was truly incapacitated when he agreed to sell the home to Perry and Bloom. The second phase will involve the judge deciding if damages are owed.

Perry and the 46-year-old actor were involved in a legal dispute with Westcott, the 84-year-old businessman who sold them the house in July 2020. According to legal documents, Westcott claimed that he lacked the mental capacity to understand the contract due to health reasons, including being on painkillers for back surgery that happened shortly before the sale.

In 2015, Westcott was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, a genetic brain disorder. He later sent an email to Berkshire Hathaway, who acted as the agent for both the seller and buyer, stating that he did not want to sell his home. Perry and Bloom responded that same day with a letter expressing their fondness for the home and their desire to purchase it as their new residence. However, Westcott replied that he was in the final stages of his life and could not sell his home.

Perry and Bloom, who got engaged in February 2019 and had daughter Daisy in August 2020, later decided to take legal action. Westcott received a letter from their lawyer stating that the couple had no intention of backing out of purchasing Mr. Westcott's home and that he was legally bound to finalize the sale.

The non-jury trial commenced in September, three years after. Westcott argued that he was not mentally capable when he made the decision to sell the house. However, Perry and Bloom's lawyer claimed in their opening statements that Westcott was fully rational at the time. A judge ordered Perry to testify in the trial as she sought over $5 million in compensation for the loss of potential rental income and for the expenses incurred in maintaining their other rental properties.

In May 2020, Westcott acquired the property at the center of the legal dispute for a total of $11.25 million. Westcott's real estate agent, Cristal Clarke, testified that initially, he had considered selling the house to Maria Shriver for $13.5 million. However, the day before his back surgery, he withdrew his counter offer after Clarke assured him that she could secure a higher amount. Shortly after Westcott purchased the house, Perry, who had previously seen the residence, offered him an additional $4 million above the original purchase price.

Situated in the Montecito neighborhood of Santa Barbara, California, the 9,285-square-foot residence was built in the 1930s and sits on a 2.5-acre plot. It boasts nine bedrooms, eleven bathrooms, a gym, a wine cellar, an infinity pool, and a three-bedroom guesthouse.