Katy Perry says she is seeking justice in trial over $15 million mansion
Katy Perry testified remotely in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday during the second trial of a prolonged legal dispute over a $15 million mansion in Montecito, California. When asked by attorney Andrew J. Thomas if she stood to gain anything from the case, Perry offered a one-word response: “Justice.” The pop star and former American Idol judge did not directly acknowledge potential financial gain, but she admitted she could lose money if the outcome went against her. Perry and her former partner, actor Orlando Bloom, purchased the upscale property in 2020. The seller, 85-year-old Carl Westcott, claims he lacked the mental capacity to agree to the sale and sued to undo the deal. Perry’s side — represented by her business manager, Bernie Gudvi — won the first trial in 2023, but Gudvi later countersued over alleged lost rental income and maintenance costs, prompting the current trial.
Throughout her testimony, Perry fielded pointed questions about Bloom, who officially owns the property through a company he established. Judge Joseph Lipner ruled Bloom did not have to testify, calling it unnecessary. Perry described her role in the property’s remodel as that of a “partner and adviser,” noting she and Bloom remain “family for life” despite splitting in July; they share a daughter who turned five the day of Perry’s testimony. Her attorney, Eric Rowen, objected frequently to questions he deemed irrelevant, including inquiries into Westcott’s prior mental health treatment, which Lipner disallowed. Perry also confirmed she could have purchased the property outright, but chose to finance it with a mortgage. The trial has included discussion of renting the mansion, with tenants such as actor Chris Pratt’s family mentioned, though Pratt is not on the witness list. Perry ended her testimony with a lighthearted correction after the judge misheard her statement about being pregnant at the time of her dealings with Westcott. The non-jury trial is expected to conclude later this week. Perry’s property battles are not new; she previously prevailed in a lawsuit over a convent and successfully appealed a copyright case involving her hit song “Dark Horse.”
Comments
Post a Comment