Sale Of Former Convent Invalidated, Clearing Way For Purchase By Katy Perry
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A judge canceled the deed and invalidated the sale of a former convent in Los Feliz to a businesswoman Wednesday, clearing the way for singer Katy Perry to swoop in and buy the property.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie Bowick announced her decisions during a brief hearing in consideration of two separate motions in a case that pitted the "Roar" singer against restaurant owner Dana Hollister in their dueling efforts to acquire the property.
Bowick said she will have a written ruling later Wednesday.
Lawyer J. Michael Hennigan, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Perry's attorney, Eric Rowen, both praised the rulings. Rowen said he expects the sale to Perry to occur soon.
Hennigan and Rowen said their clients have some remaining claims against Hollister, for which Bowick set a trial date for May 2017.
Randy Snyder, Hollister's attorney, said he wants to read the ruling before recommending what course of action Hollister might take, including any possible appeal. He said he believes Hollister is entitled to a refund of any money she put down attempting to buy the property.
The archdiocese started the litigation by filing suit against Hollister last June 19. The sale to Hollister was favored by two nuns who are members of the California Institute of the Sisters of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sisters Rita Callahan and Catherine Rose Holzman.
The sale to Hollister was for $10 million, of which only $100,000 was paid, according to the archdiocese. The proposed sale to Perry would be worth $14.5 million, consisting of $10 million in cash and an agreement to provide an alternative property for the house of prayer worth $4.5 million, according to the archdiocese.
Perry, 31, filed a cross-complaint against Hollister and the archdiocese through the singer's company, Bird Nest LLC.
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