Brad Pitt wins latest court battle as Angelina Jolie’s winery buyers face testimony order

LOS ANGELES: Actor Brad Pitt has scored a win in his ongoing court battle with former wife Angelina Jolie over the ownership of Chateau Miraval, the French winery the couple once owned together, People magazine said.

According to a court document obtained by the publication, the Superior Court of California has granted a request from Pitt’s legal team asking members of the Stoli Group to give depositions. Pitt’s lawyers have argued that the company and its executives have important information about Jolie’s 2021 sale of her share in the winery to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli Group.

Earlier, Pitt had tried to depose Stoli Group executive Alexey Oliynik, who reportedly refused to provide documents or appear for questioning, saying he could not be forced to do so because he lives in Switzerland.

The California Court of Appeals also reversed an earlier decision involving Stoli Group owner Yuri Shefler. According to People magazine, the court said it found it difficult to believe that Shefler had only a “minimal role” in the winery sale: “It defies credulity that Shefler, a sophisticated businessman, would risk almost $40 million on a transaction about which he knew nothing and with which he had no involvement.”

A source close to Pitt told People, “This win is another step towards transparency over what took place.” The source also claimed that Shefler “was a partner [Jolie] chose knowing it was a partner Brad did not want involved in the business.”

Another source close to Pitt claimed that Jolie had agreed Pitt would have the “first right of refusal” before any sale but later sold her stake to Shefler.

Responding to the recent court rulings, a lawyer for Jolie told People that the decisions “have no impact on the merits of the case, and certainly has no impact on Ms. Jolie’s case. At this point, Ms. Jolie is just looking forward to defeating the case at trial next year so that their family can finally focus their energies on healing and moving on.”

A source close to Jolie also said she sold her share to Stoli because she believed the company would help grow the business for the benefit of their children, who are expected to inherit Pitt’s share in the future. The source added, “The truth is that Pitt’s ego and obsession for control got in the way. Brad refused to work with Stoli simply because Angie chose them, not him.”

Pitt and Jolie’s legal fight over Chateau Miraval began in February 2022 after Pitt alleged that Jolie sold her share of the winery without his approval, despite an agreement that neither would sell without the other’s consent. Jolie later filed a countersuit, accusing Pitt of waging a “vindictive war” against her after she filed for divorce in 2016, according to People magazine.

The former couple finalised their divorce settlement in December 2024. (ANI)