Pop icon Katy Perry is used to commanding the stage, but now she’s facing a different kind of spotlight—the courtroom. The singer has been ordered to testify in an ongoing legal battle over a Santa Barbara home purchase, creating a potential scheduling nightmare as she prepares for her nationwide tour starting in May.
Katy Perry’s Legal Drama Could Disrupt Her Upcoming Tour
Perry is entangled in a lawsuit involving 85-year-old veteran Carl Westcott, who claims he was heavily medicated when he agreed to sell his home to Perry’s business manager, Bernie Gudvi. The case, originally filed in 2020, has faced multiple delays, and the trial schedule continues to shift.
Although Perry is only required to testify for an hour, if the trial drags on, she may be forced to balance legal proceedings with her tour, which kicks off on May 7 in Houston and wraps up on August 23 in Miami. While she has a five-week break between her May 21 and July 12 shows, any court appearances during that time could disrupt her preparations.
The latest delay came after Westcott’s attorney, Andrew J. Thomas, cited serious health issues, leading a judge to push the trial to February 25. However, with repeated postponements, there’s uncertainty about whether the trial will proceed as scheduled.
Inside the Legal Dispute Over the Santa Barbara Property
Westcott claims he was not in the right state of mind when he signed the contract, having recently undergone surgery and being under the influence of strong painkillers. He later sought to reverse the sale, arguing that he had been taken advantage of.
Perry’s legal team has refused to back out, insisting that the contract is legally binding. In November 2023, a court ruled in Perry’s favor, upholding the sale and requiring Westcott to hand over the property. However, the case is now in a damages phase, prolonging the legal battle.
Lawyers Clash Over Trial Delays and Testimonies
The courtroom drama has intensified as attorneys argue over postponements and who should be required to testify.
Westcott’s lawyer, Andrew J. Thomas, accused Perry’s business manager’s legal team of exploiting his illness to gain an advantage in the case. He claimed they were attempting to exclude expert witnesses, which he described as a move designed to prejudice his client’s rights.
On the other hand, Gudvi’s attorneys fired back, arguing that Thomas had delayed proceedings for months and that the case should have been resolved long ago. While they agreed to a short delay, they accused Westcott’s side of using the postponement to excuse “months of total inactivity.”
Katy Perry Fights to Keep Orlando Bloom Out of the Case
As the legal dispute continues, Perry’s team is also working to keep her fiancé, Orlando Bloom, from testifying. They argue that Bloom has no relevant knowledge of the case and that expert testimony from contractors who assessed the property should be sufficient.
Perry’s lawyers maintain that while she may testify, involving Bloom would be unnecessary and disruptive. They insist that “Katy’s family should be off-limits.”
