The spotlight remains fixed on a high-stakes legal confrontation involving pop superstar Katy Perry and a contested $15 million mansion, with a recent judicial decision exempting actor Orlando Bloom from testifying. This development adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing real estate litigation, which stems from an elderly Texas millionaire’s claim that he was not in a fit state of mind when he agreed to sell the property.

The legal saga commenced in July 2020 when Carl Westcott, then 85, attempted to rescind the sale contract just days after its signing. Westcott asserted that he had been under the influence of painkillers and experiencing symptoms consistent with dementia, rendering him incapable of finalizing such a significant transaction.

A pivotal moment occurred during a liability trial in 2023, where a Los Angeles County judge meticulously evaluated Westcott’s mental capacity at the time of the agreement. The court ultimately ruled that Westcott was, in fact, perfectly competent when he affixed his signature to the contract, paving the way for the property transfer.

Despite the earlier ruling, Katy Perry only gained possession of the property’s keys in April 2024. She subsequently claimed that extensive repairs were necessitated by a severe “lack of maintenance” over the preceding four years, coupled with a substantial loss of potential rental income. These combined factors, Perry asserts, resulted in a financial setback nearing $6 million.

Perry is actively pursuing reimbursement for these alleged damages, contending that Westcott was legally obligated to transfer the mansion in the same condition it was in when the purchase agreement was made. Conversely, Westcott has countered this claim, arguing that Perry failed to provide conclusive final receipts for the completed repairs, instead offering only estimates for the work.

Westcott’s legal team had specifically sought Orlando Bloom’s testimony, positing that the “Pirates of the Caribbean” alum possessed pertinent information regarding the millions of dollars in repair costs. It was alleged that Bloom was present during spring 2024 home inspections and purportedly stated his intention to oversee the repairs on Perry’s behalf, a key point in this celebrity legal battle.

However, Judge Joseph Lipner’s ruling on Friday decisively dismissed Westcott’s efforts to compel Bloom’s appearance on the stand. The judge stated that Bloom’s questioning regarding the repairs was unnecessary and advised Westcott to address such matters directly with “the construction person who actually did it.”

The latest twist in this complex mansion dispute unfolds just weeks before Perry is expected to personally testify during the bench trial, scheduled to commence on August 21, which aims to determine the precise amount of damages she is owed. This highly publicized legal proceeding continues to attract significant attention as a major piece of entertainment news, further amplified by the recent joint statement confirming Perry and Bloom’s decision to part ways after their 2019 engagement.