Katy Perry bought a Montecito mansion in July 2020, but what was supposed to be a dream home turned into a legal headache. The seller, Carl Westcott, an 85-year-old Army vet, claimed he wasn’t in the right state of mind to sell. He said pain meds, a recent back surgery, and a brain disorder clouded his judgment. Perry’s team said otherwise, and after a long legal tug-of-war, the court agreed with her.
A judge ruled in 2023 that Westcott didn’t prove he was mentally unfit during the sale. That made Katy Perry the official owner of the 8.9-acre estate. But it didn’t stop there. Things got messier, louder, and way more public.
After the win, Katy Perry hit back with her own lawsuit. She wanted $6 million in damages. Why? Because she said the property had serious issues, like a flooding basement and a busted roof from a fallen tree. On top of that, she claimed she lost rental income during the whole legal mess.
Perry / IG / The 40-year-old singer cut the number down to $1.3 million, but still wanted legal fees covered. The house, which she originally planned to share with Orlando Bloom and their daughter, was later rented out to actor Chris Pratt's family.
The penalty phase kicked off in August 2025. Day one, Katy Perry’s team asked for her to testify by video because she was on tour. The judge didn’t like that at all. He called it “outrageous,” “not nice,” and “unfair.” He said it made her and her lawyers look bad. So he gave her a new date to show up virtually: August 26.
When that day came, Perry showed up on video, wearing what some say were pajamas. She talked for about an hour, laying out why the ruling mattered to her. She said it wasn’t just about money, though she did mention lawyer’s fees and lost rent. The singer said what she really wanted was justice.
Orlando Bloom’s Role in the Case
One surprise from her testimony was who technically owned the home. Turns out, the property is under an LLC controlled by Orlando Bloom. Still, Katy Perry said she was involved in the purchase and benefited financially. She called herself Bloom’s “partner and adviser.”
Perry / IG / Even though Perry and Bloom broke up in June 2025, she called him “family for life.” That may have softened the breakup gossip, but in court, every word counts.
Perry also pointed out that she could have paid cash for the house, but chose a mortgage instead.
Westcott Family Fires Back
Carl Westcott didn’t speak, but his sons sure did. They didn’t hold back. They slammed Katy Perry’s video testimony, calling it fake and over-rehearsed. And they didn’t like her outfit either, saying pajamas showed a lack of respect. To them, it felt like she didn’t care about their father’s condition.
They also challenged her damage claims. To them, the lawsuit smelled like greed. They pointed to their dad’s health, who is now bedridden with Huntington’s disease, and said the legal fight had taken a toll. It has been five years of stress, hospital visits, and courtroom drama.
This is a non-jury trial, which means one man, Judge Lipner, gets to make the call. Some say that’s good, because it cuts out the emotional pull celebrities can bring. But it also means Perry’s image in the judge’s eyes is everything.
Orlando Bloom was subpoenaed, but the judge let him off the hook. He didn’t want a “celebrity circus.” Instead, witnesses include Westcott’s sons and experts on the property’s damage.