Angelina Jolie’s small win in winery legal battle could signal big trouble for Brad Pitt, here’s why

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The ongoing legal battle between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt over their shared Chateau Miraval winery has taken a dramatic turn, with a court ruling that Pitt must provide key communications tied to claims of abuse.

The decision could bring new evidence to light in a case that intertwines business disagreements with deeply personal allegations, as reported by People.

Angelina Jolie gains legal advantage in winery dispute with Brad Pitt

 A judge ruled on Monday, November 25, that Brad Pitt, 60, must hand over emails, texts, and other documents, excluding privileged communications with his attorneys or therapists.

Jolie’s legal team argued these records could reveal critical information about alleged “abuse, lies to authorities, and years of cover-up".

Paul Murphy, a lawyer for Jolie, stated the documents are “crucial evidence” in the dispute. “His actions harmed Angelina and their children and are central to this case,” Murphy said, adding that Jolie, 49, has been reluctant to escalate the matter. 

"She never pressed charges, she left all their properties, and she is the one who tried to sell him the business in the first place. To this day, Mr Pitt has never been held accountable for his actions and has at all times controlled Miraval and the winery, yet he still demands more. She wants this to end, the children want this to end, and Mr Pitt should focus on healing their family, not pursuing lawsuits."

The lawyer further stated, "If he does not, Angelina will defend herself in court by presenting the evidence necessary to demonstrate that Pitt’s allegations are demonstrably false."

Pitt’s legal team dismissed the request as “wide-ranging and intrusive", accusing Jolie of using the case as a “sensationalist fishing expedition".

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's legal battle: From business deal to personal accusations

The legal dispute stems from Angelina Jolie’s 2022 sale of her half of Chateau Miraval to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group. Pitt claims the sale violated a prior agreement requiring mutual consent, while Jolie argues she made efforts to sell her share to him, which he blocked by demanding an extensive NDA.

The NDA dispute has been a contentious point, with Jolie’s lawyers asserting it was designed to silence her allegations of abuse. Pitt’s team countered that NDAs are routine in business, highlighting a court’s earlier decision requiring Jolie to disclose her history with such agreements.

This case comes against the backdrop of their 2016 divorce, which Jolie filed after a highly publicized incident on a private plane where Pitt was accused of abusive behavior. Though authorities cleared him after investigations, Jolie’s legal team claims his misconduct extends beyond that event.

Pitt and Jolie, legally declared single in 2019, share six children: Maddox (23), Pax (20), Zahara (19), Shiloh (18), and 16-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. A couple of the children have dropped Pitt's last name and have minimal contact with him or his family.

Their divorce has been a prolonged affair, with negotiations stretching on for almost eight years.