Pitt Accuses Jolie of Deception in Heated Legal Battle Over Winery Emails

Actor Brad Pitt has leveled accusations of “ongoing deception” against his former spouse, Angelina Jolie, within their legal dispute, requesting a judge to dismiss her motion for him to cover $33,000 in legal fees, as exclusively revealed by Us Weekly.

Court documents filed on October 27 show the 61-year-old F1 star seeking judicial intervention to compel Jolie, 50, to disclose private email correspondence she has consistently withheld.

Pitt specifically seeks access to Jolie’s electronic communications with her business manager, Terry Bird, her UK-based public relations representatives, Chloe Dalton and Arminka Helic, and two financial advisors.

According to Pitt, Jolie conceded in her sworn statement that she “routinely engaged in extensive discussions with her non-legal business manager, Terry Bird, concerning ‘virtually every facet of [her] professional and business endeavors,’ which encompassed conversations about ‘legal counsel and strategic proposals’ pertinent to the case.’”

He argued, “The activities Jolie describes are collaborative discussions among individuals who are not attorneys. The potential for these discussions to have occurred before or after receiving legal advice on a similar or related subject does not exempt them from [disclosure].” (In earlier court submissions, Jolie’s legal representatives firmly rejected Pitt’s assertion that these emails fall outside attorney-client privilege, contending she is not obligated to provide the requested materials.)

The actor further stated that Jolie “has systematically withheld these communications, including nearly all of Bird’s internal exchanges detailing the terms of her stake sale in Chateau Miraval to the [external party] — the central transaction debated in this lawsuit.”

Concerning her correspondence with her publicists, Pitt pointed out that legal counsel was not included in these emails. He noted that Jolie has failed to clarify why the involvement of “British image consultants was essential for obtaining legal guidance pertaining to the sale of the French estate and vineyard she co-owned” with Pitt.

Pitt asserted that despite three and a half years of legal proceedings, Jolie “has only submitted a single internal email that references the sale conditions central to this matter.” He suspects a significant number of emails remain undisclosed.

The actor mentioned that Jolie voiced objections to his request for her to willingly provide the emails for a judicial review. He commented, “It is peculiar that Jolie has chosen not to comply, considering this would arguably be the simplest method for her to demonstrate that she has only withheld privileged legal advice.”

The Acrimonious Legal Dispute Between Brad and Angelina: What Led to This Point?

This request stems from the ongoing dispute between Pitt and Jolie concerning Chateau Miraval, a French vineyard acquired during their marriage. (Pitt initiated legal action, alleging Jolie divested her share in the enterprise, which he stated he diligently developed, to an external entity without his consent, a prerequisite he claims was necessary. Jolie refutes the necessity of Pitt's authorization.)

The former couple continues to exchange demands for document and information disclosure to strengthen their respective cases. For several months, Pitt has accused Jolie of delaying the production of emails exchanged with specific advisors. He possesses a catalog of emails she sent to her team, but Jolie has denied Pitt access to these communications.

Jolie asserted that the emails Pitt sought contained discussions of legal issues with third parties, thus exempting them from disclosure. She further petitioned the court to penalize Pitt, a judicial reprimand, and compel him to reimburse her $33,000 in legal expenses incurred while opposing his email request.

In his latest filing, Pitt clarified that he is not targeting communications exchanged with Jolie’s legal representatives. He maintained that the disputed emails are between non-attorneys, implying Jolie should release them, unless they specifically pertain to her solicitation of legal counsel.

Paul Murphy, Jolie’s attorney, informed Us, “Mr. Pitt’s rebuttal filing fails to address our points and persists in leaning on assumptions and guesswork – all with the aim of encroaching upon her confidential discussions with her legal team. This reiterates that this litigation is a clear reflection of Mr. Pitt’s protracted campaign to torment and dominate Angelina. We anticipate the forthcoming court session.”

As initially reported by Us, Jolie submitted a declaration on October 6 outlining her objection to providing the emails.

Angelina Jolie Alleges Brad Pitt Attempted to Impose an NDA to Conceal ‘Misconduct’

“Jolie, via her legal representation, repeatedly urged Pitt to retract [the motion]. She also cautioned him multiple times that should the Court reject Pitt’s motion, Jolie would petition the Court to mandate Pitt to cover her legal expenses incurred in contesting the motion,” her lawyer penned. “Pitt nevertheless declined to retract it. Consequently, Jolie requests that the Court compel Pitt to compensate her for the considerable legal costs she was compelled to bear.”

Within her submission, Jolie conveyed to the court the profound impact of the divorce on herself and their children.

Brad Pitt Faces Allegations of 'Plundering' and 'Childish' Behavior in Winery Litigation

“Miraval represented one of our initial significant joint ventures, serving as a cornerstone of our family existence. Our wedding took place there, I spent a portion of my pregnancy there, and I brought our twin offspring home from the hospital to that location,” the star of 'Maria' recounted. “Experiencing such an abrupt severance from my home and cherished recollections has been challenging, and it was particularly distressing for the children to witness such upheaval in their lives.”

Pitt asserted that Jolie approached him in 2021, expressing her desire to divest her ownership in Miraval. The actor stated that he and his representatives initiated discussions to acquire Jolie’s share. He maintained he presented an offer exceeding $55 million.

Jolie recounted that Pitt requested her signature on a non-disclosure agreement, which she perceived as extending to his personal conduct beyond the business, and which she disagreed with and declined to sign. The proposed transaction collapsed, and Jolie subsequently sold her interest to a firm named Stoli. Pitt has alleged Stoli is attempting a hostile acquisition. The Stoli contingent has initiated a counter-lawsuit against Pitt, accusing him of misappropriating company resources. He has refuted these accusations. A trial date has not yet been established, but Pitt anticipates it will span 15 days.