Katy Perry gives reason she’s testifying against elderly man with brain disorder over $15,000,000 house

Katy Perry has addressed why she is countersuing an elderly man.

In 2020, Perry and her former fiancé Orlando Bloom purchased a property in Santa Barbara, California, for $15 million.

The home was owned by Carl Westcott and it was Perry's business manager Bernie Gudvi who sorted the sale for the singer.

Shortly after the deal was done, Westcott changed his mind about the sale and he's since alleged that he wasn't of 'sound mind' when he agreed to selling it.

The elderly man has something known as Huntington’s Disease. Per Mayo Clinic, the illness 'causes nerve cells in the brain to decay over time'.

It adds: "The disease affects a person's movements, thinking ability and mental health."

As well as this Westcott is said to have had surgery recently before receiving the contract to sell his home and was taking 'multiple opiate medications' when he signed it, court documents state.

Katy Perry is embroiled in a legal battle with Carl Westcott (Neil Mockford/GC Images)

"The contract that [Westcott] signed to sell his home is therefore void or voidable," the filing goes on to argue.

Perry and Orlando weren't named in the suit; Bernie Gudvi was listed at the primary defendant.

While Westcott hoped that he'd get his home back, a judge ruled in Perry and Bloom's favor last year and the house deed was transferred to them.

Perry has since countersued Westcott and appeared in court via Zoom yesterday (August 26).

During her testimony the 'Firework' singer has asked what he had to gain from the litigation.

"Justice," she replied. Westcott’s attorney, Andrew J. Thomas, then proceeded to ask, as per PEOPLE: "How about money?"

"I stand to lose money if it doesn’t work in my favor," said Perry.

Regarding a financial stake in the lawsuit, Perry explained: "My financial stake could be lost money, lawyers fees, lost rental income: all of the above."

Celeb couple Perry and Bloom purchased the property in 2020 (Ammar Rowaid/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Allegedly Westcott has only received $9,000,000 of the $15,000,000 purchase, sparking Thomas to ask the singer who will be footing the bill for the final sum needed.

"It could be a combination of Orlando and I," she said, adding: "We are family for life."

Perry and The Lord of the Rings alumni share five-year-old daughter Daisy together and ended their engagement a couple of months ago.

Addressing the speculation that they'd gone their separate ways after almost a decade together, the celebrity pair said in a joint statement via their rep: "Orlando and Katy have been shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on coparenting.

"They will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is — and always will be — raising their daughter with love, stability and mutual respect."