New legal troubles for Brad Pitt: Katrina victims sue him for $20.5 million for this important reason
The actor’s company is accused of fraud, breach of contract and unfair trade practices.
Brad Pitt is facing legal action over his Make It Right project, an initiative set up in 2006 to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, the harrowing natural disaster that swept through the Bahamas and the southeastern United States causing 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion.
The actor’s idea was to build 150 environmentally sustainable homes and replace those that flooded in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. However, almost 20 years on, the owners of the 109 properties that were constructed have now demanded $20.5 million in compensation following concerns over the buildings being structurally flawed and unfit for living.
Reports suggest that the actor has been attempting to avoid being deposed in the class action lawsuit; citing conflicts with his demanding film schedule, his lawyers have been working to see him exempt from testifying.
70,000 documents and 30,000 pages of financial records have been presented by the law firm taking the side of the residents, who have also contracted forensic accountants and architectural and engineering experts to bolster their case against Pitt’s non-profit.
Tensions were high back in 2022, but the situation was defused after a resolution was agreed. Global Green, an eco-charity backed by various celebrities, had moved in with a $20.5 million settlement on behalf of Make It Right and Pitt.
However, that deal fell through when it was revealed that Global Green did not have the funds, with the company claiming that Pitt said he was going to lead a fundraising campaign to cover the costs, something the actor denies.
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