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Angelina Jolie has won a major legal victory in her ongoing fight with ex-husband Brad Pitt over their former winery, Château Miraval. A judge ordered Pitt on November 25 to produce documents that Jolie’s attorney, Paul Murphy, says will prove communications about abuse, lies to the authorities, and years of cover-up by Pitt.
The documents, ranging from emails to texts and all forms of written communications, may serve as crucial evidence in the case. According to Murphy, this legal battle was never wanted by Jolie, as evident by the fact that she never pressed charges, left all their properties, and initially tried selling the business to Pitt. To date, Pitt has never taken responsibility for his actions and at all times controlled Miraval and the winery, yet still seeks more. She wants this to end, the children want this to end, and Pitt should focus on healing their family, not pursuing lawsuits.
The legal battle began when, in 2022, Jolie sold her half of the Château Miraval to Tenute del Mondo, Stoli Group’s wine division. Pitt filed a lawsuit, alleging that the sale violated the agreement they had not to sell without mutual approval. Jolie alleged that she tried to sell it back to Pitt but he required an NDA as part of the agreement, which she refused to accept.
Earlier this month, Pitt scored a legal victory of his own, moving the case one step closer to trial with possible evidence of a written agreement between the former couple regarding the sale; Jolie's team counters that Pitt’s NDA offer was broad and would have contractually bound her to silence about his alleged abuse.
The accusations trace back to a 2016 private flight, where Pitt was reportedly abusive while intoxicated. Jolie filed for divorce days later. Although authorities cleared Pitt after an investigation, Jolie’s filings allege a pattern of prior abuse.
Pitt and Jolie, who were declared legally single in 2019, share six children. Several of the kids have distanced themselves from Pitt, dropping his last name. The former couple is also slowly approaching a divorce settlement, with ongoing negotiations over remaining issues.
This latest ruling represents a new turn in the long controversy that may bring new evidence to light, which could drastically alter the outcome of the case. The dispute continues to be polarized, with neither camp budging, as Angelina Jolie’s counsel is ready with the adequate evidence required to substantiate her claims.
