KATY PERRY TO FACE FAMILY OF DISABLED PENSIONER IN COURT OVER 'EXHAUSTING' DISPUTE
After a four-year-long legal battle, Katy Perry may still have to face the family of Carl Westcott, 84, in court.
The Woman’s World singer has been at odds with the disabled pensioner since 2020 after purchasing his $15,000,000 mansion in Montecito, California.
Westcott, who has Huntington’s disease among other ailments, claimed he was not of sound mind when he signed over the eight-bedroom real estate due to painkillers.
A judge previously ruled in favour of Perry and her husband Orlando Bloom but the dispute hasn’t ended there as the 39-year-old is now hoping for a discount from Westcott.
She is pushing to knock $6,000,000 off the price, claiming the octogenarian — who is receiving hospice care — owes her for loss of rent and property repairs.
For this last leg of the ‘exhausting’ battle, Perry will have to face the entirety of Westcott’s family in the LA Superior Court, according to the Daily Mail.
A judge has ruled that the ET singer must give evidence in the damages trial, forcing her into the courtroom opposite the furious family.
‘It’s clearly apparent that she’s trying to squeeze every last dollar out of Carl’s family,’ a family friend told the outlet.
‘The fact is the Westcott family wants her to face them because they believe they deserve that. She’s taken their father’s house.
‘The least she can do is look them all in the eye.’
Lawyers had argued Westcott was ‘unable to understand the nature and probable consequences of his actions’ but Perry emerged the victor over the ownership dispute.
Apparently after the sale, Perry and Bloom had written a personal letter to Westcott in which they thanked him for selling them the home.
It is said they discussed how the mansion was somewhere they could live in as a family and hoped to bring up their then-unborn daughter, something Westcott’s son said was at odds with her claim for list rentals on the property.
Since May, the 9,285-square-foot compound has been registered under DDoveB, a nod to Perry’s daughter Daisy Dove Bloom, three.
It’s believed the singer has placed $9million in escrow to pay Westcott but will dispute the remaining balance after sending 25 experts to assess the home.
The court date was set to happen this month but the US Army veteran, who made him money founding companies like 1-800-Flowers, pleaded for more time.
Water damage, an oak tree falling onto the building, and various other maintenance issues are said to have cropped up while Perry and Bloom waited to move in.
The famous couple are thought to be asking for around $3.5million in lost rent and are expected to be subpoenaed for evidence, although they will likely rely on experts.
Judge Joseph Lipner insisted: ‘As I sit right here this minute I definitely expect Ms Perry to be a witness.’
Four days before he signed over the keys, Westcott had undergone a six-hour back operation and was on a cocktail of opioids and painkillers to manage his recovery.
He claimed that this contributed to him selling the property and within a week attempted to pull out of the deal.
In the first part of the dispute, a judge concluded: ‘There are no grounds for rescission. The contract must be respected.’
At the time of the ruling, in a conversation with the New York Post, Westcott’s son Chart said: ‘Where the judge’s ruling may follow the letter of the law, it shows that the law has no spirit.
‘Katy Perry will now have to testify, in person, to receive her “damages”. We look forward to her testimony.
‘We hope Ms. Perry enjoys her pyrrhic victory. Lastly, we wish the judge had spelled our father’s name correctly.’
Metro.co.uk reached out to Perry’s reps for comment.
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2024-07-05T08:43:56Z dg43tfdfdgfd