Florida Judge Rejects Disney’s Request to Dismiss Lawsuit by Oversight District
WILMINGTON, Delaware – In a blow to Walt Disney Co (DIS.N), a Florida judge has rejected the company’s request to dismiss a lawsuit by an oversight district. This decision could potentially hinder Disney’s efforts to pursue its own case against Governor Ron DeSantis, escalating a longstanding feud.
The ruling allows the oversight district to move forward with its lawsuit, which seeks to nullify “backroom deals” made with a previous district board earlier this year that were beneficial to Disney. If these deals are deemed invalid, it could significantly weaken Disney’s federal case against DeSantis.
A Disney spokesperson downplayed the ruling’s impact on their federal lawsuit, stating that it “has no bearing” on their pursuit of justice. They expressed confidence in Disney’s ability to prevail in both the federal and state cases.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the oversight district declined to comment on the matter.
The roots of this feud can be traced back to last year when Disney criticized a Florida law banning discussions of sexuality and gender identity with younger children in classrooms. DeSantis, who is vying for the Republican presidential nomination, has consistently attacked “woke Disney” in public statements.
In response to Disney’s criticism, DeSantis rallied lawmakers to pass bills that modified the district, now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, giving the governor control over the board instead of Disney. These bills also retroactively invalidated agreements made between Disney and the previous board of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, just before it came under DeSantis’s jurisdiction.
In April, Disney filed a lawsuit against the governor in federal court, accusing DeSantis of using the state government as a weapon against the company due to their opposition to the classroom gender discussion law. The company urged the court to prevent the state from enforcing laws specifically targeting Disney and to reinstate the favorable development agreements made with the previous district board.
The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for both Disney and the oversight district. As tensions continue to rise, the dispute between the entertainment giant and Governor DeSantis shows no signs of abating.
Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware, and Jody Godoy in New York; editing by Deepa Babington, Jonathan Oatis, and Richard Chang
Note: This article abides by the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.