Homeowners in New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina have filed a class action lawsuit against Brad Pitt and his Make It Right Foundation, alleging that the organization provided them with defective homes. Represented by Ron Austin Law, the plaintiffs recently secured a significant court victory, as a district judge ruled that Make It Right must release key documents during the discovery phase of the case.
Brad Pitt Seeks to Block Deposition Amid Legal Battle
According to The US Sun, Pitt has attempted to avoid being deposed in the lawsuit, citing conflicts with his busy filming schedule. Although he was listed as a witness by Ron Austin’s legal team, his attorneys filed a motion to exempt him from testifying.
The court documents stated, “Mr. Pitt’s motion picture production schedule presents concerns that extend beyond his personal time and attention. Most notably, his absence from film production for a deposition could lead to major scheduling conflicts with potential legal and financial repercussions for the studio.”
The filings also noted that Pitt is expected to be in Europe for several months, making an in-person deposition costly and time-consuming.
This motion, initially filed in April 2024, had not been publicly disclosed until now. In June, the judge ruled that the motion was moot, as the discovery process was still ongoing.
The Make It Right legal team has requested additional time to review the foundation’s extensive documentation. Court records indicate that the evidence includes “approximately 195 boxes, 13 filing cabinets, an IT server, and 13 desktop and laptop computers,” filling three entire rooms. According to The US Sun, Ron Austin Law has already received 70,000 documents, along with 30,000 pages of financial records from the defendants.
To strengthen their case, the plaintiffs’ legal team is bringing in forensic accountants and has already enlisted architectural and engineering experts. With a status conference set for next month, the legal battle is far from over.
