Brad Pitt Wins Key Legal Battle Against Angelina Jolie

Court Orders Jolie to Release Previously Withheld Communications

In a significant development in the ongoing Chateau Miraval dispute, Brad Pitt has achieved a procedural victory over his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge recently mandated that Jolie hand over previously withheld, unredacted communications tied to their legal conflict over the renowned winery. The ruling, issued on Wednesday, December 17, came just a day before Pitt celebrated his 62nd birthday.

The court granted Pitt’s motion to compel discovery, requiring Jolie, 50, to provide complete versions of certain non-attorney communications that were previously claimed as privileged. According to the court document, “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 with the Document ID numbers set forth in the Appendix to this Order.”

Pitt’s Legal Team: Emails Could Reveal True Intentions

Sources close to Pitt have indicated that his legal team believes the unredacted emails may strengthen his position in the dispute. “The emails would prove Jolie has been disingenuous since the start regarding her true intentions about selling her share of the business to Stoli,” a source told People.

Pitt initially filed the lawsuit in 2022, claiming Jolie sold her stake in Chateau Miraval to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli Group, without obtaining his consent—a violation of their alleged agreement that neither party would sell their shares independently.

Jolie Denies Agreement, Countersuit Claims Vindictive Motives

Jolie has denied the existence of any formal agreement and has filed a countersuit, alleging that Pitt has engaged in a “vindictive war” following their separation. Her legal team also contends that Pitt refused to buy her out of the winery because she declined to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which they claim was intended to silence her regarding alleged abuse by Pitt during a 2016 private jet incident. While Pitt was investigated, no charges were filed, and Jolie chose not to pursue legal action at that time.

$35 Million Damages Claim and NDA Dispute

Court filings reveal that Pitt is pursuing $35 million in damages related to Jolie’s 2021 sale of her stake in the winery. Evidence submitted by Pitt’s legal team includes emails between Jolie’s representatives and his lawyers. A November 2023 email from Jolie’s legal team responding to Pitt’s claims stated, “The burdensome nature of any production is a matter of Mr. Pitt’s own creation—he is suing Ms. Jolie for $35 million in damages,” emphasizing that Pitt must provide the relevant documents to substantiate his claims.

Additionally, Jolie’s team highlighted that Pitt’s refusal to produce documents related to his four-year NDA, which covers alleged personal misconduct, is central to their case. They argued that these communications are critical to understanding the full context of the dispute and must be produced.

Ongoing Legal Saga and Family Context

Pitt and Jolie, parents to six children—Maddox, 24; Pax, 22; Zahara, 20; Shiloh, 19; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 17—finalized their divorce in December 2024. The legal battle over their winery, which began amid one of Hollywood’s most closely followed separations, continues despite the resolution of their divorce.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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