Katy Perry is continuing a years-long legal dispute with 85-year-old disabled Army veteran and 1-800-Flowers founder Carl Westcott — this time seeking nearly $5 million in damages tied to the sale of a $15 million Montecito mansion the pop star purchased in 2020.
Perry and her then-fiancé, Orlando Bloom, agreed to buy the eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom home from Westcott in July 2020. In early correspondence, the pair reportedly expressed excitement about welcoming their first child and described the property as a perfect place to raise their growing family.
But just days after the contract was signed, Westcott attempted to walk away from the deal. His attorneys argued he lacked the mental capacity to understand the agreement because he was recovering from back surgery and taking strong pain medication. They claimed “the combination of his age, frailty… and the opiates he was taking several times a day rendered Mr. Westcott of unsound mind.”
photo- Kameron Westcott/Facebook
After years of litigation, a judge ruled in December 2023 that Westcott had not provided convincing evidence that he was unable to consent to the sale. In the ruling, the judge wrote that Westcott showed “no persuasive evidence that he lacked capacity to enter into a real estate contract.”
Perry officially took possession of the estate in May 2024 — by which time Westcott had become bedridden and was receiving hospice care due to Huntington’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder.
Following her court victory, Perry filed a countersuit seeking roughly $5 million in damages. According to filings from November 21, 2025, her claims include:
- $3,525,000 in lost rental income
- $1,343,401.95 in property repairs, including major structural work
- Additional legal fees and costs
Perry’s legal team argues the veteran is responsible for the financial losses because the protracted litigation delayed her ability to use or rent the home.
Westcott’s son, Court Westcott, has spoken publicly about the toll the case has taken on his father.
He told the Daily Mail the ordeal has been “devastating,” describing Perry’s legal strategy as “at the lowest end of the ethical spectrum.” He called the damages claim “absolutely egregious” and said, “the worse my father’s health deteriorates, the more aggressive they have been in court.”
Court Westcott also criticized the broader system, saying celebrities can “treat ordinary people like dirt.”
In August 2025, Perry testified via Zoom about the purchase. When asked by Westcott’s attorney what she hoped to gain from the litigation, she responded: “Justice.” Pressed on financial motives, she offered no additional explanation.
The dispute has garnered so much attention that it has inspired a proposed piece of legislation known as the PERRY Act — Protecting Elderly Real Estate for Retirement Years. The measure would grant a 72-hour period during which either party can cancel a real estate agreement if one of the participants is over 75 years old.
Though the act never entered formal legislative proceedings, it received bipartisan interest from lawmakers in California, Texas, New York, and several other states.
This isn’t the first time Perry has faced scrutiny over a real estate conflict involving elderly individuals. In 2018, she was embroiled in a legal battle with elderly nuns over the sale of a Los Angeles convent. During a court hearing, 89-year-old Sister Catherine Rose Holzman collapsed and died after publicly opposing the ruling that favored the sale to Perry.
As of late November 2025, the damages phase of the Perry–Westcott case remains unresolved. Perry has been ordered to testify in civil court in Los Angeles regarding her financial claims.
Westcott’s attorneys have moved to subpoena Orlando Bloom, arguing his involvement in the original purchase makes him a relevant witness. Perry’s legal team has objected, calling the request an attempt to harass the actor.
The ongoing dispute has sparked widespread backlash, with critics viewing it as a “David and Goliath” scenario — a global superstar with vast resources pursuing damages from an elderly, gravely ill veteran who no longer owns the property at the center of the fight.
The next hearing is expected in early 2026 as both sides continue their legal battle.n and one of the world’s most recognizable entertainers.
