C
arl Westcott, 85, a veteran and founder of 1‑800‑Flowers, has battled a $5 million lawsuit with pop star Katy Perry over a $15 million Montecito mansion. The case, which began when Westcott agreed to sell the home to Perry in 2020 but later tried to withdraw, has taken a heavy emotional toll on his family. Westcott’s son, Chart, has said the family can’t wait for the case to end so they can spend his father’s remaining days “in peace.”

    Westcott, who suffers from Huntington’s disease, claimed he was under the influence of painkillers when he signed the sale. After a five‑year legal fight, a judge awarded ownership to Perry and her then‑partner Orlando Bloom in December 2023, and they took possession in May 2024. Perry then sued Westcott for $5 million in damages, citing extensive repairs needed and lost rental income while the dispute raged.

    The final judgment is expected at the end of this month. Judge Joseph Lipner, who ruled on November 25, reduced Perry’s claim from $4.8 million to $1.8 million. The $1.8 million includes $2.795 million for lost rental income from September 2020 to March 31 2024, $1.062 million in retained capital, $149 k in interest, and $259 k for repairs—figures that match Westcott’s lawyers’ proposal. Perry had originally demanded $3.525 million in rental loss and $1.343 million for repairs.

    Both parties had ten days to contest the tentative decision before a final judgment. If the settlement is accepted, Westcott will not pay Perry; instead, the $1.8 million will be deducted from the $6 million still owed to him. Perry had paid $9 million of the purchase price; she now owes $4.157 million.

    Perry’s lawyer, Andrew J. Thomas, explained that the property was transferred to her after she paid $9 million, but she could only avoid paying the remaining $6 million by the court’s deduction. Thomas noted that the court’s decision is tentative and that the final judgment is expected by December 30.

    During a hearing, Perry admitted that she was not the owner of the Montecito property; it was actually held by her former fiancé Orlando Bloom through the LLC DDoveB. She said Bloom and she are “family for life” and that she would lose money if the case did not go her way. Perry also said she had no financial stake beyond being a partner and adviser in the renovation, which she observed through photos and videos but did not actively participate in.

    Perry has not disclosed whether she or Bloom ever lived in the house. They originally purchased it as a family home for their daughter Daisy Dove. They also own another mansion in the area, bought for $14.2 million after Westcott tried to back out of the sale. The actor has largely stayed out of the lawsuit; the judge denied Westcott’s request to call Bloom as a witness, citing a desire to avoid turning the trial into a “celebrity circus.”

    The case also involved Hollywood couple Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger, who had leased the Montecito property from Perry and Bloom while waiting for their new home. Westcott’s lawyers wanted to question Pratt about the house’s condition when he moved in, hoping to counter Perry’s claims of damage. The judge, however, limited testimony to contractors involved in the repairs.

    Chart Westcott has expressed gratitude for the community’s support and confidence that the court will deliver justice for his father. The family’s main hope is that the final judgment will bring closure, allowing them to honor Carl’s remaining days with dignity and peace.