Brad Pitt won a key appeal in his ongoing Château Miraval winery dispute with Angelina Jolie after the California Court of Appeal reversed a lower court decision that had allowed Russian businessman Yuri Shefler to exit the case.
For Brad Pitt, the winery fight didn’t just continue—it gained momentum.
On Wednesday, June 24, the California Court of Appeal sided with Pitt, 62, in the ongoing Château Miraval dispute involving his ex, Angelina Jolie, 51. The appellate court overruled a lower court decision that had allowed Russian businessman Yuri Shefler to walk away from the lawsuit.
In court documents, Pitt argued that after Jolie sold her shares of the winery to Tenute del Mondo—described as a subsidiary of the Stoli Group—in 2021, Pitt became an “unwilling partner” of Shefler.
Shefler had pushed back with a motion to quash. arguing he had “minimal involvement in the negotiations for Tenute to purchase Miraval.” A lower court agreed with him. finding that Pitt “failed to present evidence that Shefler purposefully availed himself of the benefits of doing business in California.”.
The Court of Appeal saw it differently. It found that the agreement to purchase Jolie’s shares “was governed by California law.” The appellate court reversed Shefler’s motion, holding that Pitt, along with his investment company, Mondo Bongo, are also allowed to recover costs from their appeal.
“It was these contacts by Shefler with California in purchasing a California company from a California resident that caused the injury to another California resident and California company that is the subject of the lawsuit. ” the decision read. “On these facts. Shefler purposefully availed himself of the benefits of a California forum. and the controversy arose out of his contacts with the forum. We reverse.”.
Jolie’s attorney, Paul Murphy, responded in a statement to Us on Thursday, June 25. Murphy said the ruling does not change the underlying fight.
“The ruling has no impact on the merits of the case, and certainly has no impact on Ms. Jolie’s case,” the statement read. “At this point, Ms. Jolie is just looking forward to defeating the case at trial next year so that their family can finally focus their energies on healing and moving on.”
The legal battle has stretched alongside the couple’s divorce. Pitt and Jolie were together for 12 years and married from 2014 to 2016. They share six children: Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 17.
Pitt’s spokesperson did not immediately comment, with Us Weekly reaching out for input.
The appeal ruling lands as the case continues to churn through the courts, with Jolie’s legal team insisting the decision doesn’t alter the fight over what happened and what matters at trial.
Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie Château Miraval winery lawsuit California Court of Appeal Yuri Shefler Tenute del Mondo Stoli Group Mondo Bongo Paul Murphy
So wait Shefler can’t leave now? Brad Pitt really out here playing chess with lawyers lol.
This is all crazy. I don’t even get why the whole winery thing is in court for years, just sell it and move on. Angelina should be done with it.
I thought the judge already decided and now they reversed it? Like, doesn’t this mean Shefler is basically blamed for “purposefully” doing something in California which… isn’t he Russian? idk.
Seems like a win for Pitt but they’re saying it doesn’t change the merits which is confusing. So does he win the case or just win the ability to keep arguing? Also the Stoli group subsidiary thing, I’m lost—how is vodka connected to wine court drama.