Brad Pitt Wins Key Discovery Ruling in Château Miraval Fight Just Days Before His Birthday

Brad Pitt notched a procedural win in his long-running legal dispute with ex-wife Angelina Jolie, and the timing could not have been more cinematic. According to court documents obtained by PEOPLEa Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Jolie to turn over previously withheld, unredacted communications tied to the Château Miraval winery battle. The ruling arrived on December 17, one day before Pitt’s 62nd birthday, adding a notable chapter to a case that has captivated U.S. pop culture watchers for years.

The judge granted Pitt’s motion to compel discovery, directing Jolie to produce full, unredacted versions of certain non-attorney communications she had claimed were privileged. The order requires production within 45 days and applies to 22 documents listed on Jolie’s February 14, 2025 privilege log. For American readers following the saga, the decision signals a meaningful shift in what information could soon enter the public record.

What the Judge’s Order Means for the Château Miraval Dispute

From a legal standpoint, the ruling focuses narrowly on discovery rather than the merits of the case. Still, it matters. By ordering the release of unredacted communications exchanged between non-attorneys, the court has expanded the evidentiary pool that Pitt’s team can examine as they pursue claims tied to Jolie’s 2021 sale of her Miraval stake.

A source told PEOPLE that Pitt’s team believes these emails could demonstrate that Jolie was not fully forthcoming about her intentions to sell her share of the winery to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of the Stoli Group. Pitt originally sued in 2022, alleging that the sale violated an agreement requiring mutual consent before either party could transfer ownership.

Jolie’s Response and the NDA Dispute Explained

Jolie has denied the existence of any such agreement and countersued, arguing that Pitt has pursued the case vindictively. Her legal team has maintained that Pitt refused to buy her out unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement that she did not want to accept. They have argued that the proposed NDA was designed to force her silence about alleged misconduct dating back to a 2016 private jet flight.

Authorities did not charge Pitt after investigating the incident, and Jolie declined to press charges at the time. Nonetheless, the NDA dispute has become a central thread in the litigation, with Jolie’s lawyers asserting that Pitt’s refusal to produce documents explaining his insistence on a four-year NDA is critical to their case.

The $35 Million Question and Why It Matters in the U.S.

More recently, Pitt has sought $35 million in damages related to the sale of the winery stake, arguing that it harmed Miraval’s operations. Court filings submitted in October 2023 included communications between both legal teams, with Jolie’s lawyers pushing back on claims that document production was burdensome.

They argued that because Pitt is seeking substantial damages, the associated discovery costs are a natural consequence of his lawsuit. For U.S. audiences accustomed to high-stakes celebrity litigation, the figure underscores how a luxury French winery has become a proxy for unresolved tensions following a Hollywood divorce finalized in December 2024.