The ongoing legal battle revolves around a real estate disagreement between pop sensation Katy Perry and an 84-year-old millionaire who alleges he was deceived into selling his property to Perry when he was not mentally capable.
The 84-year-old Texan entrepreneur, Carl Westcott, who is the father-in-law of "Real Housewives of Dallas" star Kameron Westcott and the founder of 1-800-Flowers, filed a lawsuit against Katy Perry (legal name: Katheryn Hudson) and Perry's business manager, Bernie Gudvi.
The complaint also mentions Perry's fiancé, actor Orlando Bloom, and their intention to raise their daughter, Daisy Dove, in the property in question.
In May 2020, Westcott purchased an extensive estate with eight bedrooms and eleven bathrooms on nine acres in the Santa Ynez foothills in Montecito, California, for $11.25 million. This area is a favorite among celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, and Ellen DeGeneres.
However, Perry made an offer to buy the house less than two months after Westcott's purchase, offering more than $3.75 million above the price Westcott had paid.
Westcott claimed that at the time of signing the contract, he was suffering from the effects of Huntington's Disease, post-surgical delirium, dementia, and was under the influence of powerful pain-killing opiates, which impaired his reasoning.
According to Westcott, he was unable to fully understand the contract's terms and consequences due to his condition. He also signed a separate contract with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, California Properties, the next day, with Gudvi acting as a dual agent for both the buyer and seller.
It was only on July 22, 2020, that Westcott began to regain his faculties and decided he did not want to sell his home. He contacted Berkshire Hathaway via email on the same day. However, he received a letter from Perry on July 24, 2020, stating that she was not willing to abandon the purchase, and he was obligated to complete the sale.
The legal dispute hinges on the capacity of Westcott to enter into the contract. If he can convince the court that he lacked the mental capacity to do so, the contract may be nullified. The trial, which began on September 28, is ongoing, with Perry expected to testify.
Perry is also seeking legal fees, $2.7 million for a comparable rental, and $3.21 million in damages for lost rent. If the contract is deemed enforceable, Perry may also seek "specific performance," which would require the exact terms of the contract to be carried out.
Notably, this isn't Perry's first real estate legal battle; she was previously involved in a dispute with nuns and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles over a property in 2015, which made headlines due to the collapse and death of one of the nuns involved in court.
Meanwhile in Florida, a 17-year-old faces manslaughter charges for allegedly providing a lethal dose of fentanyl to a fellow classmate, prompting local law enforcement to advocate for Narcan availability in schools. See detailed story here
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