RPJ’s Alice K. Jump Featured in Fox News Coverage of Katy Perry’s $15 Million Real Estate Dispute

RPJ’s Alice K. Jump was recently quoted in a Fox News article covering the ongoing legal battle between Katy Perry and U.S. Army veteran Carl Westcott over the sale of a $15 million Montecito California mansion.

The dispute began when Westcott, after selling the 8.9-acre property to Perry, sought to cancel the deal, citing his claimed inability to consent to the transaction due to his medical condition. After years of litigation, Judge Joseph Lipner ruled in favor of the sale in 2023, and in May 2024, Perry officially took ownership of the Montecito home. Perry is now seeking nearly $6 million in damages, which includes compensation for structural defects, deferred maintenance, and lost rental income. The non-jury trial is now focused on determining the appropriate financial penalties.

Ms. Jump notes that while Perry’s celebrity may attract attention, it is unlikely to provide an advantage in this bench trial. She emphasized that Perry’s testimony must remain rooted in factual, substantiated damages, cautioning that any appearance of exaggeration or overreach could damage her credibility.

“She is testifying about actual damages, so it should be based on numbers, not glitz,” Ms. Jump states. “If she starts talking about speculative damages or seems to be overreaching or greedy, her testimony might actually hurt her case.”

To read the full article, click here.

This article is intended as a general discussion of these issues only and is not to be considered legal advice or relied upon. For more information, please contact RPJ Partner Alice K. Jump who counsels clients on litigation, alternative dispute resolution and business counseling, with particular emphasis on representing clients in the financial services and real estate industries as well as educational and non-profit institutions. Ms. Jump is admitted to practice law in New York and before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.