A new court filing has brought further turmoil to the ongoing legal battle between former Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. This time, Jolie’s former investment firm Nouvel has made damning claims about Pitt’s behavior in relation to the French estate and winery that they previously owned together.
According to documents obtained by CNN and People magazine, Nouvel alleges that Pitt has been engaged in a vindictive campaign to dominate and loot the wine business they built together. The company accuses Pitt and his alleged co-conspirators of attempting to retain control of the chateau by stripping and looting its assets. Nouvel is seeking at least $350 million in damages.
The document filed by Nouvel states that Pitt wasted the company’s assets, spending exorbitant amounts on vanity projects such as extravagant swimming pool renovations and rebuilding a staircase multiple times. They also claim that the actor spent millions to restore a recording studio, all without proper justification.
Nouvel’s lawyers argue that Pitt’s investment company Mondo Bongo has the same 50 percent ownership as Nouvel did. As co-equal owners, the filing asserts that Pitt should have the same rights and obligations as Nouvel, nothing more and nothing less.
This latest development comes after Pitt filed a lawsuit in February 2022 alleging that Jolie’s sale of the estate and winery was unlawful. In the lawsuit, Pitt claimed that the couple had agreed not to sell the property without each other’s consent or approval.
Chateau Miraval, located in the village of Correns in the South of France, holds sentimental value for both Jolie and Pitt. The sprawling vineyard was purchased by the couple in 2008 and served as a family retreat. It is where they tied the knot in 2014.
In October 2021, Jolie sold Nouvel to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli Group. Nouvel’s attorneys claim that Pitt’s misconduct intensified following this sale, as he was allegedly upset that Jolie didn’t sell it to him. It was at this time that Pitt filed his initial lawsuit over the sale of the estate.
Jolie, in her countersuit, denies the existence of any agreement of mutual consent and argues that she sold her portion of the winery to achieve financial independence and move on from what she describes as a deeply painful and traumatic chapter in their lives.
Pitt’s legal team has criticized Jolie’s sale of her stake as vindictive, particularly in light of an adverse custody ruling. This ruling, which took place in May 2021, granted Pitt more time with their children. Pitt alleges that Jolie sold the stake without his knowledge.
Nouvel’s court filing also claims that Jolie offered to sell her interest to Pitt and negotiated with him for months. However, the provision Pitt insists on, which prohibits Jolie from publicly speaking about the events that led to their breakup, suggests that his motive may have been to silence her rather than maintain equal control over the business.
The ongoing court battles between Pitt and Jolie have been a source of public and media attention since Jolie filed for divorce in 2016. The divorce followed a highly publicized incident on a private jet, in which Pitt was accused of verbally and physically abusing one of their children. Investigations by the Los Angeles Department of Child and Family Services and the FBI found no evidence of abuse.
Although Pitt and Jolie were declared legally single in 2019, the terms of their custody agreement are still being negotiated. They share six children together, and their custody dispute continues to be a point of contention.
The current court filing by Nouvel further exacerbates the already contentious and complicated legal battle between Pitt and Jolie. As the case unfolds, the fate of their shared business interests and the future of their relationship remain uncertain.
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