In a crucial milestone in Angelina Jolie’s long-running legal dispute with Brad Pitt, a Los Angeles Superior Court has ordered Jolie to turn over any non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) she has signed over the last eight years.
This decision is the latest twist in their continuing struggle over control of Chateau Miraval, a USD 500 million French winery, according to Page Six.
The court ordered the ‘Maleficent’ star to turn over all non-privileged papers in her possession, custody, or control that reply to Pitt’s legal team’s requests within the next month.
A source close to Pitt described the decision as a “crushing blow” to Jolie, who had previously argued that drafting the NDAs would be “expensive,” “wasteful,” and “unreasonable,” as well as a “invasion of privacy” for third parties involved.
According to Page Six, the documents in question are most likely NDAs for Hollywood employers, brands, and personal staff, which may contain sensitive information concerning Jolie’s salary and contracts with third parties.
The court order also demands Jolie to give a list of any papers she believes are private, allowing Pitt’s lawyers to assess her claims of privilege.
The Oscar-winning couple has been entangled in a legal struggle that has lasted beyond their divorce, with a special focus on the Chateau Miraval winery.
Jolie’s legal team has accused Pitt of seeking to control her through an overly broad NDA, which she claims was designed to cover Pitt’s personal wrongdoing unrelated to the winery.
This argument reportedly hampered Jolie’s agreement to sell her portion of the vineyard to Pitt, prompting her to transfer her shares to a Stoli Group subsidiary instead.
Pitt has opposed the sale to Stoli, claiming that Jolie acted improperly by finalising the agreement without his consent.
According to Page Six, a source close to Pitt stated that this ruling constitutes another pre-trial success for him.
However, Jolie’s attorney, Paul Murphy, framed the decision differently, stating, “Common NDAs are simply not comparable to Mr. Pitt’s last-second demand to try and cover up his personal misconduct.” He emphasized that the court’s acknowledgment of the NDAs’ potential relevance to the case is significant, hinting at the broader implications for Pitt’s conduct.
Murphy added, “We welcome that transparency in all parties’ discovery responses, including Mr. Pitt’s. Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal.” According to Page Six, a source close to Jolie assured that the NDAs are unlikely to be exposed during the trial.
