Real estate fraud up as London investors see $1.4M disappear from Hamilton Rd. development
Read Next
Katy Perry’s Weirdest Legal Issues Over the Years: Home Lawsuit, Music Video Investigation and More
Perry sued a group of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary after the singer attempted to purchase their former convent in Los Angeles. According to the New York Times, the nuns purchased the property in 1972 from businessman Daniel Donohue. However, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles forced the remaining sisters to relocate against their will in 2011, per Billboard. Years later, Archbishop Jose Gomez agreed to sell the property to Perry without any input from the nuns. Perry, who grew up with a religious background, made an offer to pay for the estate with $14.5 million in cash, which Gomez accepted. After learning that Perry wanted to buy their former home, two of the nuns researched Perry. The women were allegedly appalled by her after watching some of her past interviews and performances. In 2015, Perry ended up meeting with the two nuns and reportedly sang the gospel song “Oh Happy Day” for them and showed them her “Jesus” tattoo on her wrist. Before Perry could complete the sale with Gomez, the nuns, who believed they owned the land, decided to sell the property to restaurateur and developer Dana Hollister. After handing over the deed, Perry and the archdiocese sued the nuns for selling the land and Hollister. A judge ruled in favor of Perry by invalidating Hollister’s purchase.
Katy Perry's WILD Real Estate Battles Inspired This Law
The Katy PERRY Act, also referred to as the PERRY Act, "addresses the risks of elder financial abuse, especially as it relates to property and real estate sales and transfers," according to a now-inactive website created by the act's supporters. "The Act establishes a 72-hour cool-down period during which either party involved in a contract for conveyance of a personal residence, in which one party is over the age of 75, can rescind the agreement without penalty." The name is an obvious reference to the singer, but PERRY also stands for Protecting Elder Realty for Retirement Years Act. While the PERRY Act never went through any legislative process—and was an effort supported by Perry's opponents in one of her high-profile real estate court battles (more on that below)—the proposed act had bipartisan support. In 2023, when the website was still active, the signing legislators included state representatives, assemblymen, and senators, with the majority from New Mexico and Texas. Others were from Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wyoming.
Docs Showing Letitia James' Residence Could Be Legal 'Problem' for AG
James, 66, has served as New York's attorney general since 2019. The Democrat is the first African American and first woman to be elected to that position in state history. She has gained notoriety in her various legal battles against President Donald Trump and his family, notably a New York judge's ruling in 2024 ordering then-former President Trump to pay a $454 million civil fraud judgment after James sued him for falsely inflating the value of his property. James, who was born in Brooklyn and is unmarried, filed the civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and the Trump Organization in October 2023. However, according to legal filings reviewed by Newsweek, about two months prior to that suit being filed, James had amended her own records as part of a real estate transaction.