Angelina Jolie is contesting Brad Pitt’s request for NDAs in their yearslong winery dispute, “Page Six†reported on April 26. Lawyers for Pitt filed a motion to obtain Jolie’s NDAs from any third parties, arguing that the documents are necessary to shed light on why she chose to sell her stake in the winery to a Russian oligarch instead of Pitt following their 2016 divorce. While Jolie’s side strongly objected to the NDA turnover, a judge had a different opinion, according to a May 16 ruling. The latest on the Pitt-Jolie divorce proceedings below.
Jolie’s lawyers argue NDA request is “abusiveâ€
April 26, 2024: Lawyers for Jolie are calling Pitt’s motion to obtain Jolie’s NDAs from any third parties an invasion of privacy, an attempt to silence her, and even “abusive.†Attorneys for Pitt asked L.A. Superior Court to disclose the NDAs and other sensitive information earlier this month in an apparent effort to shed light on whether his NDA request was “the deal-ender [Jolie] subsequently alleged it to be†when selling her vineyard shares to a Russian oligarch instead. Pitt first sued Jolie over the sale of their $500 million winery, Château Miraval, in 2022.
Jolie’s attorneys previously claimed Pitt wanted her to sign an “onerous†and “expansive†NDA that would “cover Pitt’s personal misconduct whether related to Miraval or not,†including the abuse allegations related to an incident on a plane in 2016, in order for Jolie to agree to sell her stake in Miraval to Pitt. When the deal fell apart over the matter, she sold her shares elsewhere.
“By their nature, Pitt’s Requests seek to intrude on Jolie’s privacy,†says Jolie’s new filing, per “Page Six.†“The Requests seek contracts between Jolie (or any of her entities) and any other person or entity. Most, if not all, of these agreements will be employment-related contracts that include Jolie’s compensation or compensation she paid to third parties.†Jolie’s lawyers added, “Forcing Jolie to spend the time and expense of gathering and producing all of this documentation is expensive, wasteful, and unreasonable — and the latest manifestation of Pitt’s abusive conduct toward Jolie. The Court should not allow it.â€
Brangelina first purchased the famed, 1,200-acre vineyard in 2008 and were married in the Châtaeu’s chapel six years later. The couple divorced in 2019. The dispute over the property brought abuse allegations against Pitt back into headlines, wherein filings detail the physical abuse Jolie and their children faced on a plane in 2016.
A judge orders Jolie to hand over NDAs
May 22, 2024: Jolie must hand over eight years’ worth of NDAs in the long-running Château Miraval saga, a judge ruled on May 16 in the Los Angeles Superior Court. According to documents reviewed by People, the movie star must “produce, within 60 calendar days of this Order, all non-privileged documents in her possession, custody or control that are responsive to†Pitt’s motion filed last month, Judge Lia Martin said. A source close to Pitt called the ruling a “significant blow to the credibility†of Jolie’s claims, saying their “rhetoric†doesn’t match with “actual facts.â€
Though a source for Pitt is painting the ruling as a win, Murphy believes the NDA request was an effort to deflect attention from the “key issue†— Pitt’s alleged behavior. Paul Murphy, an attorney for Jolie, said their side is “more than happy to turn them over,†People reports.
“Common NDAs are simply not comparable to Mr. Pitt’s last-second demand to try and cover up his personal misconduct,†he said, adding that the ruling “opens the door to discovery on all issues related to Pitt’s abuse.†The lawyer said their team welcomes “transparency†in the discovery responses.
“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,†Murphy said.