Katy Perry Says She Wants ‘Justice’ in Legal Battle with Elderly Former Owner of Her $15 Million Santa Barbara Estate

Katy Perry appeared in court to testify in the ongoing legal battle over the purchase of her $15 million mansion in Montecito, Calif.

The singer appeared in Los Angeles court via Zoom on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and was questioned about the 2020 purchase of the California estate.

Perry, 40, and Orlando Bloom purchased the 1930s Montecito mansion from entrepreneur Carl Westcott for $15 million, according to court documents previously obtained by PEOPLE. However, Westcott — who was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease, a genetic brain disorder, in 2015 — sought to rescind the contract after claiming he “lacked capacity” to sign the transaction 

In the years since, Westcott, who is the founder of 1-800-Flowers, filed suit against Perry’s business manager Bernie Gudvi in August 2020.

After a years-long legal battle, Perry prevailed at a prior trial on the issue of liability, and in May 2024, Perry gained ownership of the Santa Barbara County property under the LLC DDoveB, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing property records.

A judge ruled that “Westcott presented no persuasive evidence that he lacked capacity to enter into a real estate contract…” He also ruled that there was significant evidence to demonstrate Westcott knowingly signed the contract, noting he seemed to be “coherent, engaged, lucid, and rational.”

The judge has since bifurcated the case.

The singer is now seeking more than $5 million in damages, alleging $3 million will cover her loss of rental income.

On Tuesday, Westcott’s attorney, Andrew J. Thomas, questioned Perry about what she has to gain from the litigation. 

“Justice,” she simply replied.

But Thomas asked, “How about money?”

“I stand to lose money if it doesn’t work in my favor,” she said.

She was also asked if she has “a financial stake of any kind in the outcome of this lawsuit.” Perry confirmed she does, explaining that the financial stake for her, “could be lost money, lawyers’ fees, lost income for rental.”

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A source previously told PEOPLE that the former couple were able to start renting out their Montecito home in February.

The sprawling 9,285-square-foot property sits on roughly 2.5 acres and has eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, an infinity pool, jacuzzi, outdoor fireplace, kitchen area and a three-bedroom guesthouse that overlooks the ocean.

It remains unclear if the couple ever moved into the home after officially gaining access to the property in May 2024. Perry and Bloom, 48, originally purchased the property as a place to raise their daughter, Daisy. 

The couple welcomed daughter Daisy Dove Bloom, 5, in August 2020, after getting engaged the year before. Perry and Bloom met at a Golden Globes afterparty in January 2016, and called off their engagement in June 2025.