In a significant development in their protracted legal war, Hollywood actor Brad Pitt has scored a procedural victory against his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, concerning their multi-million dollar French winery, Chateau Miraval. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has mandated Jolie to provide complete, unedited versions of communications that were previously withheld.
Court Orders Disclosure of Withheld Documents
The ruling was delivered on Wednesday, December 17, just a day before Pitt celebrated his 62nd birthday. The judge granted Pitt's motion to compel discovery, directing Angelina Jolie, 50, to produce full versions of specific non-attorney communications within 45 days. These documents had been shielded under claims of legal privilege.
"The Court orders Jolie to produce in full, within 45 days of this Order, unredacted versions of the communications exchanged between non-attorneys in the 22 documents identified on Jolie’s February 14, 2025 privilege log," the official court document stated.
Emails Could Reveal 'True Intentions', Says Pitt's Camp
Reacting to the legal win, a source close to Pitt's team told People magazine that the emails are believed to be crucial. They claim the correspondence could expose that Jolie was not straightforward from the beginning about her plans to sell her stake.
"The emails would prove Jolie has been disingenuous since the start regarding her true intentions about selling her share of the business to Stoli," the source alleged. Pitt initiated the lawsuit in 2022, accusing Jolie of violating an agreement by selling her share in Chateau Miraval to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli Group, without his consent.
Jolie's Denial and Countersuit Allegations
Angelina Jolie has consistently denied that any such mutual agreement existed. She filed a countersuit, characterising Pitt's legal actions as a "vindictive war" against her post-separation. Her legal representatives have argued that Pitt refused to buy out her share because she would not sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) they say was meant to silence her about allegations of abuse.
This refers to a 2016 incident on a private jet where Pitt was accused of verbal and physical abuse towards his family. While Pitt was not charged after investigations and Jolie did not press charges at the time, the event remains a point of contention.
Pitt is seeking $35 million in damages, linked to Jolie's 2021 sale of her winery stake. Recent court filings show an exchange where Jolie's lawyers argued that the burden of document production is Pitt's own making due to the massive damages claim. They also pointed to Pitt's refusal to produce documents related to a proposed four-year NDA concerning his "personal misconduct," which they say is central to their defence.
The former couple, who share six children—Maddox, 24; Pax, 22; Zahara, 20; Shiloh, 19; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 17—finalised their divorce in December 2024, eight years after Jolie first filed in September 2016. However, the bitter dispute over their shared business asset, Chateau Miraval, continues to unfold in the courtroom, with this latest order marking a pivotal moment in the high-stakes battle.
