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A Los Angeles jury sided with pop star Katy Perry and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles after finding a real estate developer intentionally hindered Perry's ability to purchase a former convent in Los Feliz.
Following a judge's decision last month, a jury in Los Angeles on Monday awarded Perry and the diocese $10M in punitive damages against real estate developer and businesswoman Dana Hollister. A judge awarded the pop star and diocese $5M in an earlier decision. Perry’s share is about one-third of the judgments.
“Katy is extremely pleased with the jury’s insight and understanding, and is hopeful that the jury’s decision will pave the way for her to complete the purchase of the Waverly property without further interference,” Perry's lawyer, Greenberg Traurig attorney Eric Rowen, said in an email to Bisnow Monday night.
“For my part, I am very satisfied with the jury’s decision and believe that justice has been well served,” he said.
An email to Hollister’s attorney was not returned Monday.
The jury’s verdict is the latest chapter in this ongoing high-end real estate saga between Perry, the diocese, nuns and Hollister.
For the past several years, Perry has tried to purchase an eight-acre former convent and other adjoining property in Los Feliz from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles for $14.5M.
Hollister said she had purchased the property from two nuns who had lived in the convent. Hollister had planned to build a boutique hotel on the site. The judge said the nuns did not have authority to sell the property and voided the contract, according to the LA Times.
The diocese sued Hollister with Perry later joining in through a cross-complaint through her company, the Bird Nest LLC, according to the Times.
The jury found Hollister “acted with malice, oppression or fraud” for undermining the sale of the property from the archdiocese to Perry.
Rowen said another court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15 for possible additional relief from Hollister. He also said he expects Hollister’s team to file an appeal.
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