COURT SIDES WITH THE SINGER IN REAL ESTATE DISPUTE INVOLVING ELDERLY HOME SELLER
Katy Perry has won the legal battle over her $15 million Montecito mansion. A judge ordered the home’s 85-year-old former owner to pay $1.8 million in damages after ruling he breached the sale agreement.
Pop superstar Katy Perry has officially won her lawsuit surrounding the purchase of a $15 million mansion in Montecito, California. The dispute centered on whether the seller — an 85-year-old disabled veteran — had the legal and mental capacity to finalize the sale before later attempting to reverse it.
According to court documents, the judge ruled that the original contract was valid and enforceable, determining that the homeowner breached the agreement when he later sought to unwind the sale. As a result, the court ordered him to pay $1.8 million in damages, largely tied to rental value and delays in transferring possession.
The case captured widespread public attention, with debates surrounding elder vulnerability, real-estate law, and the optics of a high-profile celebrity facing off against an elderly veteran. Supporters of Perry emphasized that the lawsuit focused strictly on contract enforcement, while critics argued the situation highlighted deeper questions about power imbalances.
Legal experts say the ruling reinforces strict standards in California property law, where signed contracts are difficult to overturn even when sellers later claim diminished capacity unless clear medical evidence is presented — something the court found insufficient in this case.
The veteran’s legal team expressed disappointment with the decision and is reportedly evaluating options for appeal. Perry has not released a personal statement, but her representatives say she looks forward to finalizing the long-delayed property transfer.
The ruling effectively ends a lengthy real-estate dispute that began in 2023 and has since become one of the most closely watched celebrity property battles in recent year
