Brad Pitt is accusing ex-wife Angelina Jolie of intentionally harming his reputation by selling her share of their South of France vineyard to a “stranger.”
According to a new court filing obtained by People, Pitt alleges Jolie “sought to inflict harm” on him by selling her stake of the former couple’s Chateau Miraval Winery to spirits manufacturer controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler. Pitt claims that Jolie “knew and intended that Shefler and his affiliates would try to control the business Pitt had built and to undermine Pitt’s investment in Miraval.”
Pitt also claims he and Jolie had agreed not to sell their respective interests in Miraval without the other’s consent. However, Angelina allegedly “pursued and then consummated the purported sale in secret, purposely keeping Pitt in the dark, and knowingly violating Pitt’s contractual rights.”
Since Shefler acquired Jolie’s stake in Miraval, Pitt accuses the Russian businessman of launching a “hostile takeover of the wine business, destabilizing Miraval’s operations and seeking access to Miraval’s confidential and proprietary information for the benefit of his competing enterprise.”
Pitt’s lawyers continued, “All of this is the direct result of Jolie’s unlawful and tortious conduct. In violation of the parties’ agreement, Jolie has sought to force Pitt into partnership with a stranger, and worse yet, a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions.”
A hearing on the case is set for July 19. Pitt has requested a trial by jury and is looking to be awarded damages “in an amount to be proven at trial.”
