Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie win new libel suit over divorce claim

[HMG] – In another tiresome battle with inept journalism, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have accepted an undisclosed sum in settlement of their privacy claim against a British newspaper.

On January 24th the British tabloid ‘The News of the World’ reported that the couple of five years had visited a divorce lawyer the previous month and were planning to divide their $320 million fortune, then separate and make custody arrangements for their six kids.

Pitt, 46, and Jolie, 35, promptly sued for misuse of private information, and a clear breach of Britain’s ‘Data Protection Act,’ claiming the paper had made ‘false and intrusive allegations.’

Appearing in London’s High Court early this morning the pair’s lawyer, Keith Schilling said the newspaper had argued it acted in good faith, but had now agreed to publish an apology, accepting the story was ‘false and intrusive.’

To make things even worse, Sorrell Trope — whom the paper had named as the lawyer – never even met with the couple.

“I have never met your clients, or had any involvement with either of them,” she told Schilling in a letter. “This is also true with respect to all other members of this firm.”

Mr. Schilling was quick to rejoice in his well-deserved win;

“When the ‘News of the World’ failed to retract the allegations — thus leaving their readers in the dark on the true position — the couple had no alternative but to sue,” Schilling told BBC reporters. “Today’s victory marks the end of the litigation brought by Brad and Angelina.”

Apart from the apology, the paper’s owners — Rupert Murdoch’s ‘Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd’ – will also pay Brad and Angie’s legal fees, plus damages – which the pair intend to donate to their charity;

“The money will be donated to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation,” an insider confirms. “Every penny will be donated.”

Brad and Angelina were not there for the hearing – Angie is currently in L.A, promoting her new movie, ‘Salt,’ while Brad is filming ‘Moneyball.’elsewhere in town…