Pitt Hires Heavyweight Hollywood Divorce Lawyer

[NoImagination]

http://celebrityjustice.warnerbros.com/news/0505/10a.html

Pitt Hires Heavyweight Hollywood Divorce Lawyer
May 10, 2005

A "Celebrity Justice" Exclusive.

From "Fight Club" to "Troy" and the upcoming "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," superstar Brad Pitt is known for his on-screen moves. Now only has "CJ" learned that Pitt's made a big move in real life, hiring a respected Hollywood heavyweight attorney in his divorce from Jennifer Aniston.

Sources tell "CJ" that Pitt has hired Bruce Clemens, a partner at the Beverly Hills law firm of Jaffe and Clemens.

Aniston filed for divorce from Pitt on March 25, 2005. Under California law that gave Brad only 30 days to respond, but well-placed sources have told "CJ" that Pitt missed that deadline. While a failure to respond could normally lead to a default judgment, high-powered family law attorney Neal Hersh believes that is not the case here.

"There will be no legal ramifications of [Pitt's] failure to file a response," speculated Hersh, who has represented the likes of Oscar winners Halle Berry and Kim Basinger in their divorces.

Hersh noted that there's nothing unusual in Pitt's case. "My guess is the parties are negotiating with their lawyers and they just don't want to file any documents with the courts."

Hersh's hypothesis is consistent with what "CJ" has been reporting all along: Brad and Jen have already worked out most details and have decidedly avoided filing documents in order to keep private as many details as possible.

Well-placed sources tell "CJ" Brad got an extension, which essentially means that for now he doesn't have to respond. Hersh told us he believes this sets the scene, "so that both parties can negotiate a settlement."

Hersh predicts an out of court settlement for Brad and Jen.

And an out of court settlement is exactly what happened with another Hollywood couple, Jon Cryer and his estranged wife Sara. They reached an agreement and settled their divorce on Tuesday. All that's left now is for the judge to approve it.



I understand nothing about American divorces... but how on earth did he miss the deadline? I still don't get it. Add that to the wedding ring pictures from this week... and it seems as though Brad is dragging his feet towards a divorce.

Either that or he's too wrapped up in Angelina :rolleyes:

[sparo]

I would take it with a grain of salt really. It comes from Celebrity Justice which is a gossip site. Remember, when they said that brad and jen had all their assets figured out by their managers and were ready to file anyday now, this was back in early Feb and both their reps denied it then so......Just gossip.:01:

Thanks for the info.

[regan21286]

Even if it were true, I'd expect Jen to counter. Really hope there's no animosity and there's still hope of reconciliation.

[randr]

uts just another, of the many rumours out there, the medisa is soo stupid!! I dont pay attention, i just like to see what story they can give society next!!

[NoImagination]

Oops, sorry I thought I was posting this on the Gossip thread! Maybe a mod can move it?

Anyway, yeah, time will tell what happens. I think at this point a reconcilliation would depend on a heck of a lot of explanation and apologies from Brad re: Angelina. No matter what went on, it wasn't appropriate. I think if anyone is going to fight for that marriage it's going to have to be Brad at this point. Would be nice if that was what he was doing.

Seriously though, anyone who's familiar with Cali divorce law (or any American divorce law), could the reason Brad didn't respond be because he doesn't WANT the divorce? Is it common for people to not respond? I just don't see why he wouldn't. The terms Jen asked for were soooo fair and straightforward...

Just wishful thinking from a fan. ;)

[randr]

Oops, sorry I thought I was posting this on the Gossip thread! Maybe a mod can move it?

Anyway, yeah, time will tell what happens. I think at this point a reconcilliation would depend on a heck of a lot of explanation and apologies from Brad re: Angelina. No matter what went on, it wasn't appropriate. I think if anyone is going to fight for that marriage it's going to have to be Brad at this point. Would be nice if that was what he was doing.

Seriously though, anyone who's familiar with Cali divorce law (or any American divorce law), could the reason Brad didn't respond be because he doesn't WANT the divorce? Is it common for people to not respond? I just don't see why he wouldn't. The terms Jen asked for were soooo fair and straightforward...

Just wishful thinking from a fan. ;)


well sid if this is the truth, and yes MAYBE brad didnt respond because he DOESNT want the divorce??!! now im happy.......and dreaming its still just a rumor to me though

[regan21286]

Oops, sorry I thought I was posting this on the Gossip thread! Maybe a mod can move it?


And done! I feel like a genie...lol

[sparo]

From what i understand is that Brad doesn't have to respond if he agrees w/the terms jen gave, which seems like he does. Only if he didn't agree with her terms then Brad would be able to file a counter divorce,then it would get ugly much like the denise/charlie case where she filed and he counter filed. Bascially the article states that is will be a very amicable divorce that they both will divide up their assests themselves and not let the courts decide that for them. Hope that helps.:)

[Ray-Ray Green-Queen Rach rules]

i hope it is a friendly divorce cause it would be fantastic to see them together again even if it is just as friends that would be cool!

[~CK~]

CJ actually is fairly reliable.

Brad's failure to respond could be because of a number of things, but like sparo said Brad probably didn't disagree with what Jen asked for. Since Brad and Jen have kinda already worked out what each of them get and stuff I don't think it'll be a hard, long divorce.

I just hope both of them can get through this and find some happiness down the line.

[knicksfan]

Have they both already made an agreement on the stuff their gonna getor are they going through court for that too?

[~CK~]

Have they both already made an agreement on the stuff their gonna getor are they going through court for that too?
From what I understand, Brad and Jen have essentially already worked out what they were each getting. They did reach a common agreement on the house and the estate.

I assume (although I'm not 100%) that a lot of this stuff worked itself out because of their pre-nup agreement.

[sparo]

Brad and Jen never had a pre-nup, But they always kept seperate assests, the only things there dividing is the assests they bought together after their marriage. I would assume everything is already divided, their only waiting now for the mandatory six month waiting period law in Cal, then the divorce would be finalized sometime in Sept.:(

[ajal28]

Rumors....CJ is not reliable sorry, have anyone of you ever seen the show?, its like a bad celebrity court gossip show(My opinion), they use the words "sources" just like everybody else, which drives me crazy. No concrete evidence. Anybody can say that yeah Brad hired a lawyer, is looking for a house, and everything else people are speculating over. Sorry but I believe in having proof of something before saying its true, because the media feeds the public so much crap all the time.

[*JnFn*]

Just another rumour i guess, I'm sure Jen and Brad will do things their way and this doesn't seem very like them... they aren't the type of people to drag their personal lives through the public eye, like it will be done if it's taken to court... they will avoid that and i think they already have. Seems to me they have already made an agreement, it's just rumours.

[mrs_pitt_aniston]

i hope it is a friendly divorce cause it would be fantastic to see them together again even if it is just as friends that would be cool!

I agree....
they have a lot of friends together also...and it's sad if they have to avoid them, just to not run into eachother!