Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom are caught up in a legal battle over the 1930s Montecito mansion that was at the center of a contentious non-jury trial – which began Wednesday and will continue until early next week – in Los Angeles Superior Court. .
The “Roar” pop star and her actor fiance bought the eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom Santa Barbara estate in July 2020 for $15 million, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. But just days after the deal was finalized, the owner, 84-year-old business entrepreneur Carl Westcott — who was diagnosed with a genetic brain disorder known as Huntington’s disease in 2015 — had a change of heart.
Westcott, the founder of 1-800-Flowers, bought the property for $11.25 million as his permanent residence just two months before selling it, it was revealed in court. The spacious 9,285-square-foot home sits on approximately 2.5 acres and features an infinity pool, jacuzzi, outdoor fireplace, kitchen and three-bedroom guest house that overlooks the ocean.
In October 2021, Westcott was committed to a mental health facility in Dallas following a suicide attempt, and his attorney stated in court that his client fears memory loss due to his condition. Westcott currently lives in a facility for dementia patients and was not well enough to attend the trial.
During opening statements Wednesday, Westcott’s attorney, Andrew Thomas, said his client was showing signs of “delusion” and “intrusive thoughts” after taking the painkillers hydrocodone, gabapentin and tramadol when he sold his home on July 15. Five days before the sale, Westcott had spinal surgery on his back. According to attorney Thomas, the contract was presented to Westcott while he was in Dallas and still recovering from “post-operative delirium.”
“The family of Mr. Carl H. Westcott has been under tremendous stress because of this lawsuit and their concern for their father’s declining health,” Thomas said in a statement to PEOPLE on Aug. 16 before the trial was adjourned for a month.
Westcott is a former The Real Housewives of Dallas father-in-law of reality star Kameron Westcott. She appeared at the trial on both days with her husband, Court, and other family members.
A week after the operation, Westcott claimed he was beginning to feel “mentally clear” and contacted the brokerage firm representing the celebrity couple’s business manager Bernie Goodvi via email, saying he was not in his right mind to sign any binding contracts and all together wanted to avoid the sale, according to the court documents.
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During opening statements for the defense, Goodvi’s attorney Eric Rowan argued that Westcott’s degenerative brain diagnosis did not affect Westcott’s mental capacity — because his doctor deemed him capable of consenting to spinal surgery — and that he was also recovering from surgery when he bought the home six weeks ago in May 2020 without causing concern.
Rowan also claimed that Westcott was not diagnosed with “mild mental incapacity” until a year later. “They’re not going to prove anything or even close to what they said,” Rowan told the court. He went on to claim that Westcott’s mental capacity was “fabricated” and “fake”.
According to Cristal Clarke, Westcott’s Berkshire Hathaway real estate agent, who testified in court Thursday, Westcott decided to withdraw his counteroffer after Clarke informed him he could get much more money for it.
Initially, real estate agent Nate Smith, who represented Maria Shriver, expressed interest in the home for $13 million, and that same day Westcott rejected the $13.5 million offer, Clarke testified, adding that Westcott withdrew the offer several days later. hours later after she said he could get more.
The next day, Westcott underwent surgery in Dallas, and Clarke allegedly called Perry’s real estate agent to tell her that Westcott was willing to sell his home. The singer — who upped her initial offer from $13.5 million to $15 million — viewed the property in the spring before Westcott purchased it, and shortly thereafter inquired about buying it from Westcott for nearly $4 million more than the original asking price. prices, according to Clarke’s testimony.
On July 12, 2020, two days after Westcott’s surgery, Clarke allegedly texted Westcott about the sale, saying, “I have good news for you,” and then called him. Attorney Thomas argued that she took advantage of Westcott after the surgery without going beyond the terms and conditions of her contract with him.
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Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom in August 2019.
Steve Granitz/WireImage
According to Clarke’s testimony, the singer “loved the home” after multiple visits from Bloom and her sister and wanted to go ahead with the sale for the full asking price of $15 million. Clarke testified that Westcott was still open to Shriver moving in, but only if she matched the high price. Eventually, Westcott signed a legally binding contract with the power couple.
The home sale debate will continue as Perry herself may take the stand in the coming days. In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, attorney Thomas claimed subpoenas were emailed to Perry in July and August.
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According to Clarke, Westcott and his younger girlfriend and caregiver, Adelina Radeva, looked at several properties in the area, but were not satisfied with any of the houses. Afterwards, Rowan’s lawyer claimed Westcott sent an email to Goodvi’s agent saying, “I have decided not to sell my home.” However, the brokerage firm responded that he was legally bound, Clarke testified.
It was revealed on Thursday that Perry wanted to start a family in the house and live there with their three-year-old daughter Daisy Dove. She is seeking more than $5 million in damages for the alleged loss of income she and her fiance could have earned from renting the property, as well as maintenance costs for another property they own.
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