K
aty Perry has sued 85‑year‑old veteran Carl Westcott, demanding $5 million over a disputed $15 million Montecito home she purchased more than five years ago. The dispute began in July 2020 when Perry and former boyfriend Orlando Bloom bought an eight‑bedroom estate from Westcott. Shortly after closing, Westcott—an Army veteran who had recently undergone back surgery—claimed he could not understand the contract because he was on pain medication and lacked mental capacity. He tried to rescind the sale, but a December 2023 court found no credible evidence of incapacity and upheld the transaction.

    Perry’s lawyer also noted that Westcott had a competing offer from Maria Shriver, former wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Following the ruling, Perry countersued for $3.25 million, citing lost rental income, $2.2 million for repairs to restore the home, and $3 million in legal fees. Westcott, now bedridden with Huntington’s disease and receiving hospice care, says the litigation has worsened his health. His son, Court Westcott, has publicly urged an apology, highlighting the strain on his father.

    The lawsuit has drawn criticism for its perceived David‑and‑Goliath dynamic. A U.S. PR strategist remarked that a wealthy pop star demanding large damages from an ill, elderly veteran carries heavy emotional weight. Perry’s legal battles are not new; in 2018 a nun involved in a lawsuit over a convent sale to Perry died during a court appearance. Sister Catherine Rose Holzman, 89, had urged the court to halt the sale before her death.

    Perry’s claim centers on the extended litigation’s impact on her finances and the property’s value. The judge’s decision in December 2023 affirmed that Westcott had no valid grounds to withdraw, leaving Perry to pursue damages for the prolonged dispute.