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3 months ago
23
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's bitter legal battle over Chateau Miraval is due back in court today after a major new twist in the ongoing dispute.
Pitt, 60, and Jolie, 49, have been embroiled in a dispute over their co-ownership of the idyllic French winery, which they purchased in 2008, with the actor suing his ex-wife for selling her half without his consent for $62 million in October 2021.
They later entered into an acrimonious mudslinging over NDA's, which have become a key battleground in their fight, with Jolie being ordered to turn over every NDA she signed with a third party from 2014 to 2022 after she claimed she backed out of their agreement because Pitt asked her to sign one.
Jolie sold her stake in Chateau Miraval to Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler in 2021, which Pitt argues went against their agreement to offer the other the right of first refusal.
Their 'war of the rosé' legal battle is entering another round as the latest hearing of the case is scheduled at an LA courthouse today, although Pitt and Jolie are not expected to appear.
This comes just days after Jolie's former company Nouvel LLC - a subsidiary of Shefler's Tenute del Mondo B.V. - filed a motion to compel Campari America LLC to produce an agreement about distribution with Chateau Miraval.
Pitt, 60, and Jolie (pictured in June), 49, have been embroiled in a dispute over their co-ownership of the French winery, with the actor suing his ex for selling her half without his consent in October 2021
They later entered into an acrimonious mudslinging over NDA's, which have become a key battleground in their fight, with Jolie being ordered to turn over every NDA she signed with a third party from 2014 to 2022 after she claimed she backed out of their agreement because Pitt (pictured in February) asked her to sign one
Jolie sold her stake in Chateau Miraval (pictured) to Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler in 2021, which Pitt argues went against their agreement to offer the other the right of first refusal
In the motion filed on July 29, Nouvel LLC asks to 'produce the most knowledgeable person(s) and relevant documents regarding a distribution agreement executed on or around September 2023' between Campari America LLC - a non-party in Pitt and Jolie's legal battle - and Chateau Miraval.
'Having been wrongfully frozen out of Chateau Miraval by Pitt and his allies, Nouvel seeks information regarding the contract's provisions, and negotiations leading up to its execution,' a press release by Shefler's company on the motion reads.
'Nouvel also seeks information that will illuminate how, in the midst of the legal dispute between Pitt and Nouvel, Campari was permitted to secure the right to be the sole distributor of one of the world's most successful rosés.
'Nouvel further seeks information regarding any potential involvement by Campari in Pitt's scheme to plunder Chateau Miraval's assets and value.'
Pitt and Jolie, who met in 2004 while filming Mr. And Mrs. Smith before tying the knot in 2014, share six children together: sons Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, - who was involved in a terrifying e-bike crash in July - and Knox, 16, and daughters Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and Vivienne, 16. They filed for divorce in September 2016.
The estranged couple, who met in 2004, have been embroiled in a dispute over their co-ownership of the winery since 2021 and have entered into an mudslinging over NDA's
Pitt poured millions into the estate (pictured), riding the rosé wave, and expanding the business in an effort that saw sales grow 300 percent
The exes share six children together: sons Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, and Knox, 15, and daughters Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 17, and Vivienne, 15 (pictured in Tokyo in November 2011)
Daughter Shiloh is embroiled in her own legal battle, as she is trying to drop Pitt from her last name of Jolie-Pitt.
A hearing on the case was scheduled in court on Monday, but it was rescheduled for August 19 after 'the court was unable to complete the background check', Peter Levine, who is serving as legal representation for Jolie-Pitt in the matter, told People.
In her parents' case, Pitt accused Jolie of breaching their purchase agreement to not sell to a third party without offering the other the right of first refusal when she sold her 50 per cent stake in Chateau Miraval to Shefler in 2021.
The actor requested the sale be made void and sought monetary damages and legal fees, but it went through on October 5, 2021.
Pitt says in his complaint that the transaction to Russian oligarch Shefler harms the brand of Chateau Miraval after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
But Jolie's former company launched a $250million suit against Pitt in return, alleging that Pitt was trying to get control over the the company as revenge on Jolie over their split.
When the then couple bought the 1200 acre winemaking enterprise and estate, Pitt took a 60 per cent stake while Jolie took 40 per cent.
Pitt poured millions into the estate, riding the rosé wave, and expanding the business in an effort that saw sales grow 300 percent.
Soon the estate they purchased for an estimated $60million was worth closer to $164million.
By the time of their wedding, Jolie had 'stopped investing,' according to previously filed court records – something that she has denied.
Still, Pitt transferred 10 percent of his share to her by way of a wedding gift in December 2013 'for the sum of 1Euro [never paid]' so that by the time of their marriage in August 2014, they were 50/50 equal partners.
Daughter Shiloh (right, pictured with Jolie and sister Zahara) is embroiled in her own legal battle, as she is aiming to drop Pitt from her last name of Jolie-Pitt
The estranged couples' eight-year divorce, which has had them at war over custody of their children, has not been finalized after filing in 2016 (pictured: Jolie and Pitt in 2015)
Jolie claims she backed out of their agreement because Pitt asked her to sign an NDA as part of their business deal, which allegedly would prevent her from speaking out about the abuse allegations, including the September 2016 incident onboard the private jet.
Her team described this as an 'unconscionable' attempt by her ex-partner to 'control her' after their split.
A source close to Pitt, later told People: 'Brad requested a mutual NDA and non-disparagement strictly related to Miraval over concerns around sensitive financial information and protecting the brand, which is standard with these types of transactions.'
His legal team claimed that Jolie 'weaponized' NDAs, and asked for Pitt to sign a broader NDA just six months later as part of their divorce settlement talks.
In a ruling made public back in May, Judge Lia Martin ordered the actress to produce all NDAs she proposed, or that were proposed to her by others, regardless of whether they were finalized or agreed.
In July, Jolie's lawyer, Paul Murphy, said: 'When Angelina again asks Mr. Pitt to end the fighting and finally put their family on a clear path toward healing, unless Mr. Pitt withdraws his lawsuit, Angelina has no choice but to obtain the evidence necessary to prove his allegations wrong.'
Recent documents filed on behalf of Pitt in objection to Jolie's latest request list the pieces of evidence she would obtain.
These include 'any therapy in which [he] voluntarily agreed to engage from September 14, 2016 through December 31, 2018, his consumption of alcohol from 2008 through 2021, his random drug and alcohol testing following the flight, communications with various government agencies about the flight, and confidential filings from the parties' divorce case.'
'These requests are not designed to discover relevant evidence but rather to embarrass Pitt and/or to prejudice the trier of fact, which is not permitted by California's discovery statutes,' the documents read.
The estranged couples' eight-year divorce, which has had them at war over custody of their children, has not been finalized after filing in 2016.
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