A high-profile legal saga continues to unfold as actor Orlando Bloom has been officially exempted from testifying in superstar Katy Perry’s ongoing $15 million California mansion dispute. This significant ruling came down from Los Angeles County Judge Joseph Lipner, who determined that Bloom’s presence on the witness stand was not only unnecessary but also posed a risk of turning the court proceedings into an undue “celebrity circus.”

Judge Lipner’s decision, delivered during a recent hearing, underscored his concern that Bloom’s proposed testimony, explicitly sought by Texas millionaire Carl Westcott, would be largely redundant and consume valuable court time. The judge questioned the necessity of calling a high-profile figure when more direct sources, such as the construction professionals who carried out the repairs, could provide the pertinent financial details regarding the Montecito property’s restoration costs.

The protracted legal battle over the luxury Montecito mansion commenced shortly after Westcott inked the sales contract with Perry in July 2020. Almost immediately following the agreement, the businessman sought to invalidate the deal, alleging that he was suffering from severe cognitive impairments, including degenerative brain disease and dementia symptoms, compounded by post-operative delirium and the effects of heavy painkillers after extensive back surgery at the time of the transaction.

However, during the liability trial in 2023, Perry and her legal team presented a compelling array of evidence, including text messages and emails, illustrating Westcott’s active and lucid engagement throughout the sale of the opulent estate. These exhibits revealed that Westcott had not only been fully engaged but had also strategically entertained a competing offer from another prominent buyer, Maria Shriver, before ultimately finalizing the deal with Perry.

Despite initial public scrutiny faced by Perry over allegations of pressuring an ailing veteran, the trial’s revelations shifted public perception, highlighting that Westcott had acquired the coastal property merely six weeks prior to his agreement with Perry’s representative, Bernie Gudvi. Perry’s legal counsel successfully argued that Westcott had diligently pursued the sale, rejected Perry’s initial bid, countered with a $15 million offer, facilitated Perry’s property tour, and even criticized his agent regarding commission fees.

Following Perry’s triumph in the initial liability phase, she secured control of the property in April 2024 by placing $9 million in escrow, with the remaining $6 million contingent on the outcome of the damages phase. Perry is now contending that the four-year delay in gaining full control of the estate resulted in over $3 million in lost fair-market rental income. Furthermore, she alleges that Westcott’s failure to maintain the property during the prolonged litigation necessitated approximately $2.29 million in repairs to restore the luxury residence to its original condition at the time of purchase.

At the recent hearing, Westcott’s legal representative, Andrew J. Thomas, asserted his client’s right to obtain information regarding the ultimate repair expenditures, noting that the property had since been leased to actor Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger, signaling the completion of the extensive work. Conversely, Perry’s lawyer maintained that Westcott had ample opportunity to seek this information prior to discovery deadlines and clarified that Perry is not seeking “reimbursement” for her completed renovations, as she was not obligated to restore the house to its exact prior state, having made some modifications. Instead, Perry’s team argues the estimates reflect the cost to bring the property to its purchase agreement condition, as the onus was on Westcott to deliver it as such.

While Orlando Bloom has been excused from the stand, Katy Perry, aged 40, is still expected to provide testimony during the damages trial, likely via video conferencing due to her ongoing world tour. The judge has indicated his intention to limit her time under oath to a maximum of one hour, aiming to maintain the trial’s focus on the financial aspects of the Montecito mansion dispute.