Katy Perry’s ongoing legal battle with Carl Westcott, the 85-year-old former owner of her Montecito mansion, has taken another heated turn as Perry claims the case has devolved into a “media circus.”
Westcott’s family escalated the dispute by filing a subpoena in October, demanding that Perry’s husband, actor Orlando Bloom, testify during the damages phase of the upcoming trial, scheduled for February 25. They argue that Bloom played a key role in managing the property after Westcott sold it in 2020.
Westcott alleges he was under the influence of medication for a medical condition and not of sound mind when he agreed to sell the $15 million mansion. His family is now seeking to void the sale, citing these circumstances.
Perry and her legal team have pushed back, dismissing the claims and arguing that the sale was legal and binding. The singer has expressed frustration with the heightened media attention, asserting that the trial should focus on facts, not sensationalism.
The case, which has dragged on for over a year, remains highly contentious, with February’s trial expected to be a decisive moment.
In court documents filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Katy Perry’s legal team strongly objected to the subpoena of her husband, Orlando Bloom, arguing that his involvement is “off-limits” and calling the move an unnecessary publicity stunt.
The documents, obtained by Newsafro.com, claim the subpoena is part of an ongoing effort by Carl Westcott’s family to sensationalize the legal battle over the Montecito mansion. Perry’s legal team accused Westcott of turning the case into a “media circus” and suggested that the subpoena was either motivated by personal animosity toward Perry and her family or an attempt to pressure her into an unfair settlement.
“The ulterior motive of the subpoena to Mr. Bloom is self-evident: Westcott wants to continue turning the case into a media circus,” Perry’s lawyers and her manager, Bernie Gudvi, stated in the filing.
Katy Perry’s legal team has intensified their pushback in the ongoing real estate battle, filing court documents arguing that Orlando Bloom’s involvement in the case is baseless.
Perry’s attorneys contend that “Mr. Bloom has no knowledge remotely bearing on the facts of this case,” emphasizing that he was not involved in the original 2020 sales contract or the alleged damages that occurred before Perry officially took ownership of the Montecito mansion last year.
They assert that expert testimony from licensed contractors and subcontractors, who inspected the property, would be more relevant to the damages phase of the trial.
The filing adds, “It was one thing to seek testimony from [Perry], despite her limited knowledge of relevant facts in the damages phase; it is another to drag into these proceedings Mr. Bloom, who has no demonstrated knowledge of any relevant facts and was not the subject of any discovery.”
Perry’s team urged the court to quash the subpoena for Bloom, warning that allowing his testimony would transform the trial into a “sideshow targeting [Perry’s] family.”
The dispute stems from Perry’s 2020 purchase of Carl Westcott’s 9,000-square-foot mansion for $11.25 million. Days after signing the contract, Westcott attempted to back out, claiming he was under the influence of painkillers and not of sound mind at the time. Realtor.com currently values the property at over $12.3 million.
The trial is set to begin in February, with Perry maintaining that the sale was lawful and binding.
The legal drama surrounding Katy Perry’s Montecito mansion purchase continues to escalate, with new details emerging about the contentious damages trial set for February. Despite being declared the legal owner of the sprawling 1930s estate late last year, Perry is reportedly seeking to deduct approximately $6 million from the agreed $11.25 million price, citing substantial repair costs and lost rental income.
The property, which includes a tennis court, two guesthouses, and a pool, was at the center of a dispute after Carl Westcott, now 85 and battling Huntington’s disease, attempted to back out of the sale in 2020. A court ruled the contract valid, but Westcott’s family claims the ongoing litigation has deeply affected his final days.
Sources close to Westcott’s family argue that Perry’s pursuit of damages is excessive and lacks compassion. A family friend criticized her actions, stating, “She’s trying to squeeze every last dollar out of Carl’s family without any shred of empathy at the expense of an elderly man’s legacy.”
The upcoming trial will see Perry testify in person, facing Westcott’s immediate family, including his sons Chart and Court Westcott. The latter is married to Real Housewives of Dallas alum Kameron Westcott. The family reportedly plans to attend the proceedings, with a source describing the battle as “exhausting” for the ailing patriarch and his loved ones.#newsafro_
