A Florida judge denied Walt Disney Co’s request to dismiss a lawsuit by an oversight district, impacting Disney’s case against Governor DeSantis.
On Friday, a Florida judge denied Walt Disney Co’s (DIS.N) request to dismiss a lawsuit brought forth by an oversight district, which could have significant implications for the entertainment giant’s own case against Governor Ron DeSantis during their yearlong feud.
As a result of the ruling, the oversight district can proceed with its case, aiming to invalidate “backroom deals” that were advantageous to Disney and had been made with a previous district board earlier in the year.
Should these deals be nullified, the district claims it would substantially weaken Disney’s federal case against Governor DeSantis.
Disney’s federal lawsuit against DeSantis would almost certainly be defeated if those agreements were overturned, according to the district.
In response to the recent decision against Disney in a legal dispute with Florida Governor DeSantis, a Disney spokesperson stated that the ruling would not impact their ongoing federal lawsuit aimed at defending their constitutional rights.
The spokesperson expressed complete confidence in Disney’s eventual success in both the federal and state cases, as conveyed in an email.
On the other hand, a representative for the oversight district chose not to provide any comment.
The conflict initially emerged last year when Disney voiced criticism of a Florida law that prohibited discussing sexuality and gender identity with younger students in classrooms.
Governor DeSantis, who is vying for the Republican presidential nomination, has consistently made public remarks attacking what he refers to as “woke Disney.”
DeSantis successfully gathered support from lawmakers, leading to the passage of bills that restructured the district, now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
These bills also resulted in a transfer of authority from Disney to the governor over the district’s board.
Moreover, the agreements previously made between Disney and the former board of the Reedy Creek Improvement District were retrospectively nullified just as DeSantis was gaining control.
In response to these actions, Disney took legal action against the governor in April by filing a lawsuit in federal court.
The company’s lawsuit claimed that DeSantis had “weaponized” the state government against Disney as a retaliatory measure for their opposition to the law restricting classroom discussions on gender-related topics.
In an effort to protect its interests, Disney sought intervention from the federal court to block the state from enforcing laws specifically targeting the company.
Additionally, Disney requested the court to reinstate the development agreements that had been previously established with the board of the former district, agreements that were beneficial to Disney’s position.
The Florida judge’s decision to reject Walt Disney Co’s request to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the oversight district marks a significant development in the ongoing feud between Disney and Governor Ron DeSantis.
As the legal proceedings continue, the clash between the entertainment giant and the state’s leadership remains a focal point of attention, given the potential implications for the future of both parties involved.
