Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s ongoing legal dispute over their French winery, Château Miraval, has taken another dramatic turn. A Los Angeles judge has ordered Jolie to submit eight years’ worth of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) as part of the case. This development marks a significant moment in the high-profile legal battle that has captivated fans and the media alike.
The Ongoing Château Miraval Dispute
The dispute centers on the luxurious Château Miraval, a winery in the South of France that Jolie and Pitt purchased together in 2011. The couple, who divorced in 2016, have been locked in a contentious battle over the property. The latest twist involves Jolie’s attempt to sell her share of the winery, which Pitt claims she did without his consent.
The NDA Controversy
In April, Jolie’s legal team filed a motion to release communications they claim would show that Pitt tried to block her from selling her share unless she agreed to an “expansive” NDA. Last week, Pitt’s lawyers countered by requesting that Judge Lia Martin compel Jolie to submit all NDAs she had signed over the past eight years.
Judge Martin ruled in favor of Pitt’s request on May 16. According to the legal documents, Jolie, 48, must “produce, within 60 calendar days of this Order, all non-privileged documents in her possession, custody or control that are responsive to” Pitt’s previous action.
Reactions from Both Sides
Pitt’s legal team argued that the NDAs are “highly relevant” to Jolie’s “purported justifications for refusing to adhere to her contractual obligations to Pitt” when she sold her shares to Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler. A source close to Pitt, 60, described the ruling as a “significant blow to the credibility” of Jolie’s case and a “strong statement challenging them to match their rhetoric with actual facts, which they consistently have not been able to do” .
On the other hand, Jolie’s attorney, Paul Murphy, expressed readiness to comply. Murphy told The Daily Mail that they are “more than happy to turn [the NDAs] over” and emphasized that common NDAs are not comparable to Pitt’s last-minute demand to cover up alleged misconduct. Murphy added, “We are gratified that the Court acknowledged that the only potential relevance is to the unconscionability of Mr. Pitt’s conduct, a now confirmed key issue in this case.”
The Legal Battle Continues
Murphy also noted that the ruling “opens the door to discovery on all issues related to Pitt’s abuse” and welcomed the transparency it would bring. He stated, “Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal.”
Pitt has argued that Jolie used his proposed NDA as a pretext to halt discussions with him and sell her shares to Shefler. His lawyers accused Jolie of refusing “to produce any documents other than those (if any) concerning such an agreement between Jolie and Pitt.” They also requested that Jolie hand over “any NDA between Jolie and any third party with whom she is in a relationship or who has assisted with the care of the couple’s children” .
The Road Ahead
As the legal battle between Jolie and Pitt continues, the court’s demand for transparency and the submission of NDAs from 2014 to early 2022 will likely play a crucial role in the proceedings. Pitt first sued Jolie in 2022, claiming she “secretly” sold her shares of Château Miraval, further intensifying the dispute.
Fans and followers of the former power couple will be watching closely as the case unfolds. Will these new revelations tilt the scales in Pitt’s favor, or will Jolie’s transparency bolster her defense? One thing is certain: this legal saga is far from over.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and other celebrity news.
