Miraval Testimony Ordered
Brad Pitt Scores Key Legal Victories in Miraval Dispute, California Courts Order Stoli Testimony
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Key Points
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The California Superior Court ordered depositions of Stoli Group representatives, with Stoli executive Alexey Oliynik to be deposed in London by Sept. 30, and depositions of Tenute del Mondo B.V. and Nouvel LLC, the Jolie-sale entities, reflecting a push to gather first-hand information about Jolie's 2021 sale.
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The California Court of Appeal reversed a lower court’s decision permitting Yuri Shefler to escape the suit, describing the involvement as implausible that he had no involvement, and setting a July 8 hearing on Pitt’s motion to compel Shefler’s deposition.
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The appellate ruling found the share purchase agreement was governed by California law and that Shefler’s California contacts—including direct involvement in the transaction and significant financial exposure—sufficiently subjected him to California jurisdiction, meaning he must face the suit in court.
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Pitt and his investment vehicle Mondo Bongo are entitled to recover costs from the appeal, adding a procedural win to the ongoing litigation and signaling strong momentum for Pitt in the California proceedings.
Brad Pitt has scored back-to-back legal wins in his bitter fight over Château Miraval, the $164 million French wine estate he once shared with Angelina Jolie. On June 17, a California Superior Court ordered depositions from Stoli Group executives, and on June 24, a state appeals court ruled that Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler cannot escape the lawsuit, reversing a lower court decision that had let him walk away Courthouse News.
The twin rulings tighten Pitt's grip on the case heading into a February 2027 trial. Jolie's attorney Paul Murphy maintains the rulings "have no impact on the merits of the case," but Pitt's camp says they are "another step toward uncovering how the sale was arranged" People.
California Court Forces Stoli Executives Into Depositions
The Superior Court of California granted Pitt's motion to compel testimony from Stoli Group representatives on June 17 Express Tribune. Stoli executive Alexey Oliynik, who had previously resisted testifying, must now sit for a deposition in London by September 30. The court also ordered depositions of Tenute del Mondo B.V. and Nouvel LLC — the two companies at the center of Jolie's 2021 sale.
Jolie sold her 50% stake in Miraval to Tenute del Mondo, the wine arm of the Stoli Group, for $64 million in October 2021 Courthouse News. Pitt claims she violated a mutual consent agreement — a deal requiring both owners to approve any sale. Jolie says no binding agreement existed and that Pitt rejected her offer to sell to him unless she signed an NDA about their personal life Gulf News.
Appeals Court Puts Shefler Back in the Crosshairs
The California Court of Appeal ruled on June 24 that Yuri Shefler, the billionaire who owns the Stoli Group, must face the suit in California Us Weekly. A lower court had previously let him off the hook. The appeals court reversed that decision, finding it "implausible" that Shefler had no direct role in the 2021 transaction.
The court found the share purchase agreement was governed by California law. Shefler's direct involvement in the deal, plus his significant financial exposure, gave California courts enough grounds to assert jurisdiction over him Courthouse News. A hearing to set the terms of Shefler's deposition is scheduled for July 8. The court also ordered Shefler to pay Pitt's legal costs from the appeal.
Stoli's Russian Ties Become a Legal Weapon for Pitt
Pitt's legal team has pushed hard on the Stoli Group's alleged Russian connections. On June 12, Stoli accused Pitt of making "secret moves" by subpoenaing bank records from a Texas bankruptcy case to link the company to Russian interests TMZ. Pitt argues that Shefler's ties to Russia pose a reputational risk to the Miraval brand, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Shefler has long described himself as a passive investor with no hands-on role in the deal. The appeals court rejected that framing entirely. Legal analysts say forcing Shefler into a deposition lets Pitt's team dig into the "behind the scenes" orchestration of the sale Wonderwall.
What Each Side Claims as Trial Approaches
Pitt says he built Miraval into a world-class business and that Jolie deliberately chose a buyer she knew he "did not want involved" People. A February 2024 ruling by a Luxembourg court already stripped Stoli of a 10% share of Miraval, giving Pitt effective majority control — 50% versus Shefler's 40% — until a final verdict The Times of India.
Jolie's side argues the lawsuit is a form of "coercive control" and that Pitt is waging a "vindictive war" that has harmed the family's healing Geo News. Her team has asked to push the trial from February 2027 to late 2027. The estate is valued at between $164 million and $500 million in various court filings, and the legal fight over it shows no signs of slowing down The Times of India.
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