Australia

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie face off in court as the long-running battle over their Miraval winery goes to trial

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will go to trial next year as their long-running legal battle or the so-called ‘War of the Rosé’ heads to court, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The feuding exes are now coming face to face after a judge recently denied the Oscar-winning actress’ request to dismiss her ex-husband’s lawsuit over their French vineyard.

The Chateau Miraval estate, which produces an award-winning sparkling rosé, is at the center of a protracted court battle between the pair.

Jolie, 49, filed motions to dismiss claims Pitt, 60, made against her regarding an oral agreement over their 50-50 ownership of the vineyard.

Feuding exes Brad Pitt (pictured in September) and Angelia Jolie are now facing off in court as their long-running legal battle over their Miraval winery goes to trial

Angelina Jolie steps out in New York City on Tuesday, November 12

Feuding exes Brad Pitt (pictured in September) and Angelia Jolie (shown on Tuesday) are now facing off in court as their long-running legal battle over their Miraval winery goes to trial

Since their divorce in 2016, the two stars have been fighting in court over their French winery, Chateau Miraval (seen) that they once owned together

Since their divorce in 2016, the two stars have been fighting in court over their French winery, Chateau Miraval (seen) that they once owned together

She claims the agreement was annulled after Pitt asked her to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding their marriage – with both parties seemingly determined to throw everything at it.

“It’s already been ugly, but it’s going to get uglier now that Angie will seek revenge on Brad and continue to settle more old personal scores,” an insider close to the matter told DailyMail.com.

And it will also be more expensive – because their legal fight is already costing both parties millions.

The latest twist in the bitter lawsuit has seen LA Supreme Court Judge Lia Martin dismiss the motions.

Court papers filed last week show that the judge found basis in Pitt’s claims that their original oral agreement was binding, and that Jolie may have breached it when she sold her shares to Russian businessman Yuri Shefler in 2021 and his Stoli Group.

Pitt’s lawyers say Jolie violated the couple’s deal not to sell their respective interests in Miraval without the consent of both parties.

With the rejection of the three files, the former power couple – who married at the estate in Provence, southern France, in 2014 and separated in 2016 – will have to appear in court during the trial next year.

A source close to the actor told DailyMail.com: ‘This is a simple business dispute, but unfortunately the other party has consistently introduced personal elements that have exposed weaknesses in their case and made the proceedings more complicated and lengthy.’

In the ongoing legal battle, Brad Pitt demanded that his ex-wife hand over documents for previous agreements she entered into with third parties, after claiming she backed out of the deal due to his 'cruel' NDA clause. He is pictured in the castle with business partner Marc Perrin

In the ongoing legal battle, Brad Pitt demanded that his ex-wife hand over documents for previous agreements she entered into with third parties, after claiming she backed out of the deal due to his ‘cruel’ NDA clause. He is pictured in the castle with business partner Marc Perrin

Pitt was shocked when his ex-wife sold her half of their beautiful Chateau Miraval estate to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler without his consent in 2021.

The couple had initially agreed to give each other first refusal if either of them ever decided to sell their share

Pitt was shocked when his ex-wife sold her half of their beautiful Chateau Miraval estate to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler without his consent in 2021

The Maleficent star has 30 days to appeal the judge’s decision filed last week in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Pitt filed the $67 million lawsuit against Jolie in 2022, less than a year after the shares were sold, sparking a lengthy court battle between the exes.

But Judge Martin’s decision to dismiss Jolie’s last three claims against Pitt has put him firmly back in the driver’s seat ahead of a trial next year.

This latest court ruling represents another victory for Pitt at trial, adding to his momentum in the ongoing legal battle.

The southern French chateau, where the couple married in 2014, became Pitt's 'passion' and one of the world's most highly regarded producers of rosé wine

The southern French chateau, where the couple married in 2014, became Pitt’s ‘passion’ and one of the world’s most highly regarded producers of rosé wine

Jolie faces possible damages claims if she does not undo the deal she made with Yuri Shefler to sell her Miraval share.

With her frustration over Pitt being awarded joint custody of their children in 2021, the dispute appears to have become deeply personal for the couple and has gone beyond the original business issue.

Jolie has also been accused of trying to drive a wedge between her estranged husband and their six children in the aftermath of their divorce.

Pitt’s team claims she believes her deal with Shefler was “justified” because of the non-disclosure agreement her ex-husband asked her to sign.

Earlier this year, she suffered another blow after the court ruled that she had to produce every NDA she signed with a third party over an eight-year period, from 2014 – the year they got married – to 2022.

NDAs have become a key battleground in the Chateau Miraval dispute after Jolie claims she backed out of their agreement because Pitt asked her to sign one as part of their business deal.

She claims it was an “unconscionable” attempt by her ex-partner to have “control over her” following their April 2019 split, with his lawyers asking LA Superior Court to overturn the sale due to their agreement not to pursue a to sell to a third party.

But Pitts’ lawyers have argued that Jolie’s NDA objection was actually just a cover story she concocted to “rationalize” her betrayal of Pitt by deciding to sell her stake behind his back.

The Fight Club star’s lawyers also claim that Jolie ‘weaponized’ non-disclosure agreements herself and asked Pitt to sign a broader non-disclosure agreement just six months later as part of their divorce talks.

Pitt has won several legal victories in the battle for the winery, including a major judgment in Luxembourg that saw him return control of the estate pending further hearings.

Pitt has won several legal victories in the battle for the winery, including a major judgment in Luxembourg that saw him return control of the estate pending further hearings.

An aerial view of Chateau Miraval in Le Val, southeastern France, the winery and house that Brangelina bought for $27 million

An aerial view of Chateau Miraval in Le Val, southeastern France, the winery and house that Brangelina bought for $27 million

Pitt’s legal team asked in previous filings whether she would be forthcoming about NDAs she had entered into with third parties, including staff.

At the time, Paul Murphy, one of Jolie’s lawyers, told DailyMail.com that the judge’s order also opens up the possibility for the actress to demand documents related to Pitt’s alleged abuse.

“We are more than happy to transfer them and we are pleased that the Court has recognized that the only potential relevance is the unconscionability of Mr Pitt’s conduct, a now confirmed key issue in this case,” he said.

He continued: “The judge’s ruling completely opens the door to an investigation into all issues relating to Pitt’s abuse. We welcome that transparency in the discovery responses from all parties, including Mr. Pitt.

However, a source close to Brad said Jolie’s decision to use the NDA as a strategy “has backfired spectacularly.”

‘Her defense has been exposed as a house of cards and she will now have to provide details of all the non-disclosure agreements she has demanded from third parties.

‘There is no doubt that this is a huge setback for her. There is still a long way to go, but in the context of the case so far this is a hugely important and far-reaching ruling that will be problematic for her defence,” the source added.

Pitt has won several legal victories in the battle for the winery, including a major judgment in Luxembourg, which returned control of the award-winning vineyard pending further hearings.

In March, the LA Superior Court rejected allegations that his lawsuit was “frivolous, malicious and part of a problematic pattern.”

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button