Actor Tallies Win In Fight

Key Points:

• A state appeals court ruled that Brad Pitt can sue Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, who bought a 50% stake in the French winery Chateau Miraval from Angelina Jolie following their divorce.
• Pitt alleges that Jolie breached an unwritten agreement not to sell their winery stakes without mutual consent, and that Shefler secretly facilitated the acquisition to violate Pitt's rights.
• The appeals court found Shefler played a key role in structuring and financing the deal, including personally guaranteeing $39 million of the purchase, overturning a lower court’s decision that he was merely a passive investor.
• The case has revealed details of Pitt and Jolie’s contentious divorce, including Jolie’s allegations of abuse by Pitt during a 2016 altercation on a private plane, which Pitt denies.
• Jolie previously refused Pitt’s demand for a nondisclosure agreement related to the abuse claims, leading her to sell her stake to Shefler instead and sparking the ongoing legal battle.