Brad Pitt has gone from hero to villain with his charity organization, ’Make It Right‘. Originally intended to build eco-friendly homes for Hurricane Katrina victims, the actor’s philanthropic project has now become embroiled in a legal battle that has been a real ordeal.
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In 2006, a year after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Pitt launched ‘Make It Right’ with the intention of rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. With the promise of building 150 sustainable and innovatively designed homes, the actor attracted renowned architects such as Frank Gehry and allocated millions of dollars to the project.
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Why would Brad Pitt be involved in legal troubles again?
Despite the noble intentions of the renowned Hollywood actor, the houses have turned out to be a structural disaster that threatens the health and safety of their inhabitants. Now, Pitt and his organization are facing a class-action lawsuit for fraud, breach of contract, and unfair business practices.
The first lawsuit was filed in 2018 by Lloyd Francis and Jennifer Decuir, who alleged that their homes were uninhabitable. Since then, the case has escalated into a class action in federal court, and the pressure on Pitt has only increased. Recently, the plaintiffs’ legal team achieved a major victory as a court ordered ‘Make It Right’ to hand over 100,000 confidential documents, including financial records and internal emails, for the discovery phase of the trial.
Despite being a witness, Pitt has tried to avoid appearing in court. His lawyers argue that his busy film schedule prevents him from participating in the process, and that his absence could cause financial and logistical problems for Hollywood studios. However, a judge rejected his request to be removed as a defendant, which means the actor could still be held accountable in the lawsuit.
The organization ‘Make It Right’ has disappeared from the Lower Ninth Ward, its website gives an error when accessed, and its offices have closed, but residents continue to fight for justice.