Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Legal Battle Over Château Miraval
The ongoing legal struggle between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie over their French winery, Château Miraval, has taken a new turn. The former couple, who have been embroiled in various legal disputes since their separation in 2016, are now facing off over Jolie's demand for Pitt to release third-party communications related to a 2016 plane incident. This incident, which reportedly involved a violent altercation between Pitt, Jolie, and their six children, has been a focal point in their contentious divorce proceedings.
The 2016 Plane Incident
The altercation aboard the private jet in 2016 allegedly saw Pitt physically and verbally assaulting Jolie and their children. Details of the incident surfaced in a heavily redacted FBI report released in August 2022, which revealed that Pitt was investigated but never charged. Jolie's legal team is now seeking communications between Pitt and his advisors about the incident, including records of therapy, drug and alcohol testing, and other actions taken by Pitt post-flight.
Dispute Over Château Miraval
The legal battle over Château Miraval began in February 2022 when Pitt sued Jolie for selling her stake in the winery to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli Group controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler. Pitt claims that the sale violated a mutual agreement that neither party would sell their shares without the other's consent, an agreement Jolie denies ever existed. Jolie's countersuit, filed by her former company Nouvel LLC, accuses Pitt of waging a 'vindictive war' against her and claims the sale was legitimate.
Allegations and Counterclaims
Pitt's attorneys argue that Jolie's request for third-party communications is 'oppressive and harassing,' and have labeled it an attempt to relitigate their divorce. They maintain that Pitt has already provided sufficient documents regarding the plane incident. Jolie's attorney, Paul Murphy, insists that the requested documents are central to the case and accuses Pitt of trying to avoid accountability. The legal battle continues to escalate, with both sides unwilling to back down.
- In October 2021, Angelina Jolie sold her stake in the winery to Tenute del Mondo, a move that Brad Pitt claims was done without his consent. This sale has been a significant point of contention in their ongoing legal battle.
- The FBI report released in August 2022 provided a detailed account of the 2016 plane incident, revealing that Jolie had accused Pitt of physically assaulting her and verbally abusing their children. Despite the serious allegations, Pitt was never arrested or charged.
- Pitt's legal team has described Jolie's request for third-party communications as 'sensationalist information fishing,' arguing that it is an excessive and intrusive demand.
- Jolie's countersuit, filed by her former company Nouvel LLC, claims that no agreement existed preventing the sale of her shares and accuses Pitt of engaging in a 'vindictive war' against her.
