A DYING Army veteran’s son has insisted he won’t quit a messy six-year legal battle with Katy Perry and her business manager over his $15-million former home.
The vow comes despite a judgment ordering Carl Westcott, 86, to pay the Firework singer’s business manager nearly $2 million in compensation for the luxury California property he sold six years ago.
Credit: Getty
In a bitter letter, son Chart Westcott, 40, has slammed the pop star for causing his beloved dad “pain and destruction” during his final days.
He accused Perry, 41, of being “greedy” and “pursuing my dying father.”
Perry has been locked in a lawsuit in a lengthy David and Goliath fight for damages after buying Westcott’s former property in Montecito in 2020.
Westcott attempted to back out of the deal shortly afterward claiming his ailing health meant he was not well enough to have properly agreed to a sale.
Perry won the first phase of her legal argument in 2023, however, after a judge found that Westcott was not incapacitated at the time he agreed to the sale of the luxury 8.9-acre estate.
The sale was upheld and the veteran received $9 million for the Mediterranean-style mansion, as opposed to the $15 million initially agreed upon during the Covid pandemic.
The bedridden octogenarian has been fighting for the remainder of the purchase price ever since then.
However, Perry’s business manager told the court last year that Westcott – who receives 24/7 care in a hospice – owed her $6 million of the $15 million purchase price to cover back rent and alleged damages because of the hold up in the sale.
It left them locked in court for months over whether Westcott was entitled to the remainder of the month.
And now ex-Army paratrooper Westcott has been ordered to pay the singer around $2 million at the conclusion of this second phase of legal action, sparking further anger from his family.
Son Chart shared his harsh comments after the release of the judge’s decision, lodged at the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles on December 30.
“[Perry’s business manager, Bernie Gudvi] has already paid $9 Million to Westcott and retained $6 Million of the purchase price,” the judge’s statement read.
But, “the Court awards [Perry] $1,938,082.84,” the judge said in the document.
“Gudvi may deduct $1,938,082.84 from the remaining $6 Million.”
Westcott had argued that any award should be limited to $259,581.84 in repair costs, according to the ruling.
APPEAL LIKELY
Westcott’s legal team, and Chart, have now indicated a possible return to court to launch an appeal.
“We are glad the court ruled that the Westcott family is entitled to receive most of the remaining $6 million still owed to them,” said Wescott’s attorney Andrew J Thomas.
“Katy Perry only received approximately 35% of the amount she was seeking in her opening trial brief,” Thomas stated.
“The Westcott family can still appeal to seek complete justice.
“The contract for the house had a $15 million price.
“And even after the Westcott family sold the house in 2024 in exchange for her paying $9 million of the price, Katy Perry propelled [the] last two years of this lawsuit trying to get out of paying the remaining $6 million still owed to Westcott.”
“We respect the court and the process and are pleased that Katy Perry’s most egregious claims for damages were rejected,” Chart said after the document’s release.
“Nevertheless, we fundamentally disagree with key aspects of the phase two decision.
“We are carefully evaluating our options going forward.
“It is in poor taste and humanity that Katy Perry continues her relentless pursuit of my dying father all over money and a house she will never live in.”
The U.S. Sun has contacted Perry’s rep for comment.
The singer testified last August at the Superior Court of the State of California in Los Angeles, in front of Judge Joseph Lipner as part of the case.
She told the court that her ex-fiancé Orlando Bloom was the actual property owner.
She also confirmed that her business manager, Bernie Gudvi, had signed the contract to buy Westcott’s home.
Perry said during cross-examination from Westcott’s attorney that she was seeking “justice.”
“I stand to lose money if it doesn’t work in my favor,” she told the court about her compensation bid.
During the phase 1 hearing, the court had looked at whether the sales contract should be rescinded based on a claim that Westcott lacked capacity to enter into the contract.
He has Huntington’s disease, a condition that stops parts of the brain working properly over time.
However, after the phase 1 trial, the court held that Westcott had capacity, and the sale was allowed.
Phase 2 involved the penalty phase – with Perry seeking compensation.
She cited alleged structural defects, deferred maintenance, and lost rental income, following the purchase of the mansion in 2020, according to court documents.
“There is no reason to believe that this unique and attractive property would not rent for all 43 months,” said the judge in his December 30 ruling.
He also said that Gudvi “had complete flexibility to invest funds.”
“The Contract called for a $15 million purchase price, with a deposit into escrow in the amount of $450,000, leaving Gudvi with $14,550,000,” the ruling added.
“Westcott argued in post-trial briefing that the Court should calculate the interest on the full $14,550,000 purchase funds. The Court does not agree.”
Montecito is home to celebrities such as Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The case has been controversial, with Westcott’s family previously blasting the star for being ‘a rich pop star who can buy any other house in the world’Credit: Getty
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