Actor Brad Pitt convinced an environmental non-profit — Global Green — to cough up over $20 million to help settle a lawsuit that didn’t even name the organization.
The lawsuit, which was filed against Pitt and his Make it Right foundation, alleged that homes built by the foundation in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans had been poorly built and needed major repairs and renovations in order to be livable.
Pitt initially started Make it Right in 2007, but had not been directly involved with day-to-day operations for some time — however, when he got wind of the issues that had arisen, he went back to a more active role and promised to find a workable solution. He even dropped millions from his personal coffers to help invest in repairs.
The 2018 lawsuit named both Pitt and the Make it Right, and accused them of fraud, unfair trade practices, and breach of contract — alleging that there were structural problems and mold in a number of the 100 futuristic looking homes the foundation had built in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward. The suit also claimed that Make it Right was aware that some repairs were necessary but failed to inform the homeowners or to take steps to make those repairs.
But that suit may be all but over now that Pitt says Global Green has agreed to pony up the cash.
“I am incredibly grateful for Global Green’s willingness to step up and provide this important support for the Lower Ninth families,” Pitt told TMZ. “We collaborated in the early days post-Katrina and we are very fortunate to have Global Green’s generous continuing commitment to help address the challenges around these homes and others in need.”
The settlement agreement allows affected homeowners to receive up to $25,000 — but it must still be approved by a judge.
Pitt has also been in the news recently after a report revealed just how close the FBI came to arresting the “Bullet Train” actor after the 2016 altercation on a private jet led to his very messy public split from ex-wife and actress Angelina Jolie.
According to the report, Family Services declared allegations of abuse to be unfounded, the FBI announced that the Bureau would not prosecute Pitt — despite the fact that the agent investigating the Sept. 2016 incident had reportedly already prepared a statement of probable cause.
A woman identified only as “Jane Doe” — but believed to be Jolie — then filed a lawsuit against the FBI, demanding information regarding why that statement had not led to an arrest.