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Pop superstar Katy Perry is currently seeking close to $4.7 million in damages from 85-year-old disabled veteran Carl Westcott as part of a protracted legal battle over a $15 million luxury mansion in Montecito, California. The ongoing dispute, which began in 2020, centers on Westcott’s attempt to rescind the sale of his home to Perry and her partner, Orlando Bloom.
The controversy originated In July 2020 when Perry and Bloom agreed to purchase the eight-bedroom estate. Shortly after signing the contract, Westcott, a former Army serviceman, sought to withdraw from the deal. His legal team argued that he lacked the mental capacity to comprehend the contract at the time, claiming he was heavily medicated on painkillers while recovering from major back surgery.
In December 2023, a local judge ruled decisively in Perry’s favor, upholding the validity of the contract. The judge determined that Westcott had failed to present convincing evidence that he was incapacitated and therefore ruled that Perry was the rightful owner of the property.
The case has since shifted from a liability ruling to a dispute over financial damages. Perry’s legal team is now seeking $4,718,698.95 from Westcott. This total includes approximately $3.5 million in lost rental income that Perry claims she incurred from being unable to use or lease the property during the four years of litigation, plus over $1.3 million for necessary repairs to the mansion.
The demand for nearly $5 million has drawn intense public scrutiny, particularly given Westcott’s current condition. The veteran is currently suffering from Huntington’s disease, a degenerative neurological disorder, is bedridden and resides in hospice care. His family has openly criticized Perry’s continued pursuit of the financial claim, with Westcott’s son calling the move “entitled celebrity behavior” against a terminally ill man.
The court has already awarded Perry a partial victory on damages. In May 2024, a judge ruled she was owed $1,842,142.84, a figure derived from the $15 million purchase price, factoring in lost rental value and limited repair costs and is to be deducted from the portion of the sale price Westcott had yet to receive. However, Perry’s legal team is pursuing the higher, original figure she calculated for total losses.
