A Los Angeles judge ruled that Angelina Jolie must provide confidentiality agreements for a period of eight years as part of the legal battle over the French winery she co-owned with Brad Pitt, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
While Pitt, 60, emerged victorious in the courtroom, a source close to Jolie, 48, said the move may be a fruitless effort and could extend an already arduous court case over Château Miraval.
“Pitt and his team know that these confidentiality agreements will never see the light of day at trial. This is all for the press,” a source told Fox News Digital. “They also know that this will force Angie to spend resources tracking down all this information, which is just another way of draining her resources and punishing her for leaving.”
ANGELINA JOLIE ACCUSED OF SABOTTING BRAD PITT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF A WINERY BATTLE
Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in 2016. (Getty Images)
Judge Lia Martin ruled that Jolie must produce “all non-privileged documents in her possession, custody or control” from 2014 to February 2022 within 60 calendar days of the order, which was in response to a request that Pitt previously presented.
The NDAs in question are of interest to his legal team because they include Jolie's “alleged justifications for refusing to fulfill her contractual obligations to Pitt” since she sold her shares in the winery behind Pitt's back.
ANGELINA JOLIE ACCUSED OF SABOTTING BRAD PITT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF A WINERY BATTLE
A Pitt source said the ruling was a “crushing blow” to Jolie's battle for the award-winning winery, which could potentially undermine her central defense. Jolie's lawyers, however, are “more than happy” to comply with the judge's orders.
Pitt and Angelina met while filming “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and have six children. (Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)
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“Ordinary confidentiality agreements simply are not comparable to Mr. Pitt's last-second demand to try to cover up his personal misconduct,” Jolie's lawyer, Paul Murphy, told Fox News Digital. “We are more than happy to hand them over and are pleased that the court has recognized that the only potential relevance is the unscrupulous conduct of Mr Pitt, a key issue now confirmed in this case.
“The judge's ruling completely opens the door to discovery of all issues related to Pitt's abuse. We appreciate that transparency in discovery responses from all parties, including Mr. Pitt. Angelina looks forward to the end of this litigation with their false narratives that continue, hurting the family and interfering with their ability to heal.”
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been fighting in court since they filed for divorce in 2016. (Getty Images)
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The former couple bought a majority stake in Miraval Castle in 2008 and spent time at the house throughout their relationship. Jolie attempted to sell her company, Nouvel, to Tenute Del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group, in 2021, effectively transferring her 50% stake in Miraval. Pitt opposed this sale, claiming that the move violated a contract between the two.
Jolie's company claimed Pitt has masterminded a “vindictive campaign” to “loot” the profitable business since she first filed for divorce in 2016.
Pitt purchased the 1,200-acre French estate, Château Miraval, in 2008 for $28.4 million and intended to raise his children with Jolie at the winery, where the family would also build a business. (Michel Gangne/AFP)
Nouvel accused Pitt of “hijacking” Château Miraval and “wasting” the company's assets on unnecessary renovation projects, including spending $1 million on pool renovations, according to court documents previously obtained by Fox News Digital.
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In March, the court rejected Jolie's claim that Pitt's lawsuit was frivolous and malicious and gave the green light for a trial.
Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
