Judge Awards Katy Perry $1.8M in Mansion Dispute

A California judge has awarded singer Katy Perry approximately $1.8 million in damages from 86-year-old army veteran Carl Westcott in a protracted legal dispute over a $15 million Montecito mansion purchased in 2020. The ruling, issued recently, stems from Perry's counterclaim for losses incurred during the four-year battle to enforce the sale.

The conflict began in July 2020 when Perry and then-partner Orlando Bloom agreed to buy the eight-bedroom estate, which features 11 bathrooms, an infinity pool, a jacuzzi, ocean views and 2.5 acres of manicured grounds in one of California's most exclusive enclaves. In a personal letter to Westcott at the time, the couple expressed enthusiasm for the property, noting they were expecting their first child the following month and saw it as an ideal family home. Days after signing the contract, however, Westcott sought to rescind the deal, arguing he lacked the mental capacity to understand its terms. He had recently undergone major back surgery and was recovering under the influence of pain medication.

Westcott, a Texas businessman who founded 1-800-Flowers and a disabled veteran diagnosed with Huntington's disease in 2015, claimed the...