Judge leaves room for Katy Perry as dispute over nunnery continues

LOS ANGELES, July 31 (UPI) -- Katy Perry's efforts to purchase a former Los Angeles nunnery for $15 million is at a stand still.

On Thursday, Judge James Chalfant ruled the sale between the current Los Feliz covenant owners, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart, and restaurant owner and property developer Dana Hollister invalid, saying it was a "bad deal."

"I don't know why they sold to her..." he said, noting Hollister's mere $100,000 down payment for the multi-million dollar property and ability to easily abandon the deal if she feels unable to renovate the property into a hotel/boutique.

According to the LA Times, during the 90-minute court proceeding, Chalfant rejected the nuns' attorneys' claim that only the five remaining sisters, including Sisters Catherine Rose Holzman and Rita Callanan, can sell the estate, saying that only the Archdiocese, Archbishop Jose Gomez, who agreed to sell the property to Perry, had the authority to sell.

"We'll have a battle of potential lessees," Judge Chalfant said.

The two nuns cheered and groaned as the proceeding swayed to and fro.

Diocese attorney Michael Hennigan demanded that Hollister, who had already moved in some furniture, be evicted from the property.

Though neither Hollister nor Perry were declared the official owners of the estate, both sides declared partial victory.

Despite urges by Hennigan, according to the New York Times, Judge Chalfant allowed Hollister to stay at the property until the next hearing, set for Sept. 15.