In a recent verdict, pop star Katy Perry and actor Orlando Bloom have secured a legal victory over a disabled veteran, Carl Westcott, in their ongoing dispute regarding a lavish Montecito mansion. The ruling, made by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Joseph Lipner, concluded that Westcott had no substantial evidence to support his claim of lacking the mental capacity to enter into a contract for the property.

The judge's decision, while subject to a 10-day waiting period before becoming permanent, solidifies Perry and Bloom's ownership of the $14.2 million estate, which they acquired in 2021. Attorney for Katy Perry, Eric Rowen, expressed satisfaction with the court's ruling, stating, "This proposed decision is crystal clear - the judge has concluded that Mr. Westcott was in full possession of his faculties when he engaged in complex negotiations with multiple parties to finalize the lucrative sale of the property, which ultimately brought him a substantial profit."

The trial leading up to the judgment was marked by Westcott's attorney asserting that his client suffered from a degenerative brain disease, symptoms of dementia, post-operative delirium, and the effects of painkillers following a back surgery at the time he agreed to sell his property to Perry in July 2020. However, Judge Lipner found inconsistencies in the testimony of Westcott's medical expert regarding the veteran's mental condition during the negotiation period.

Westcott, an 83-year-old disabled veteran who served in the US Army, claimed that due to his age, poor health from Huntington's disease, and the recent surgery, he lacked the mental capacity to understand the consequences of the contract. Nevertheless, the judge determined that there was insufficient evidence to support Westcott's claim of incompetence.

While Perry's legal victory has been celebrated by her team, the case has faced criticism online as it involved attempting to evict an elderly and infirm man from his home against his wishes. Westcott's son, Chart Westcott, voiced disappointment with the judge's ruling, expressing hope that his father's testimony during the upcoming damage trial phase could lead to possible sanctions for perjury.

The ongoing legal battle between Perry and Westcott echoes a similar case from 2015 when Perry was involved in a dispute with Catholic nuns, known as the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, over a Los Feliz property. In that case, a judge ruled in favor of Perry, granting her ownership of the medieval Spanish-Gothic-Tudor estate.

As the wait period for the verdict's finalization commences, Katy Perry is expected to testify in the upcoming damage trial phase, bringing an end to this high-profile real estate saga. The outcome of the trial will determine the resolution of the dispute and any potential damages to be awarded.