Associated Press
A Florida judge should rule without trial against Disney as the company fights Gov. Ron DeSantis’ takeover of a board that oversees Walt Disney World, the Republican governor’s appointees said in a Tuesday court filing.
Members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District asked the state judge in Orlando for a summary judgment that would rule in their favor on five of the nine counts in their case.
The case is one of two lawsuits stemming from the takeover, which was retaliation for Disney’s public opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation championed by DeSantis and Republican lawmakers. In the other lawsuit, in federal court in Tallahassee, Disney says DeSantis violated the company’s free speech rights.
DeSantis isn’t a party in the state court case in which his appointees accuse Disney of wrongly stripping them of powers over design and construction at Disney World when the company made agreements with Disney-friendly predecessors. The DeSantis appointees argued that the board of Disney supporters didn’t give proper notice, lacked authority and unlawfully delegated government authority to a private entity.
The judge in the state case last month refused Disney’s request to dismiss the lawsuit.
The fight between DeSantis and Disney began last year after the company, facing significant pressure internally and externally, publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call “Don’t Say Gay.”
As punishment, DeSantis took over the district through legislation passed by Florida lawmakers and appointed a new board of supervisors to oversee municipal services for the sprawling theme parks and hotels. But the new supervisors’ authority was limited by the company’s agreements with predecessors.
In response, DeSantis and Florida lawmakers passed legislation that repealed those agreements.
The governor has touted his yearlong feud with Disney in his run for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, often accusing the entertainment giant of being too “woke.” Disney has accused the governor of violating its First Amendment rights.
In an interview with CNBC on Monday, DeSantis urged Disney to drop the company’s lawsuit, saying that he and his allies have moved on from the feud with the company.
“They’re suing the state of Florida. They’re going to lose that lawsuit,” DeSantis said on CNBC’s “Last Call.”
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
9 comments
SteveHC
August 15, 2023 at 9:10 pm
I can’t imagine that any judge worth his or her salt wouldissue a summary judgement on ANY of these matters without trial, without Disney being granted the proper right to defend itself. I guess the fascist members of this so-called “Central Florida Tourism Oversight District” don’t believe in the rule of law, due process, the right to a fair trial, or in innocence until proven guilty any more than DeSantis does.
Earl Pitts "Ya Boy" American
August 15, 2023 at 9:13 pm
The subject of M. Mouse The Groomer is of great concern to all “Dook 4 Brains Leftys” while conservatives wonder just WTF is wrong with y’all’s brains because the $HlT y’all claim to believe in will get y’all sent down straight to H E Double Hocky sticks.
Your True Words Of Your Day,
Earl Pitts ” Hey Earl’s Trying To Get Y’all InTo Heaven” American.
EPA
Earl Pitts is a Pedophile
August 15, 2023 at 9:59 pm
Swallow a bullet, pedo.
Dont Say FLA
August 16, 2023 at 8:34 am
Dad I am confused how Ron could have moved on from his expressed concerns over pedophilia. What changed that makes it okay to “sexualize children” the way Ron said Disney does? Help me understand please! You always have good advice and insight.
PeterH
August 16, 2023 at 1:31 am
DeSantis is not happy that this case will be in front of the media for the next year while he’s running for the White House.
Tom
August 16, 2023 at 7:12 am
Bingo!
Sonja Fitch
August 16, 2023 at 5:20 am
Lies and more lies. Whatever the direction of issue Desantis lies to the people in front of his face!
Dont Say FLA
August 16, 2023 at 7:35 am
A summary judgement and/or dismissal is requested in virtually every case by whichever side has the most to lose and/or the weakest arguments to make. Like accusations made by GOPs, it can be taken as a confession, or self identifying as the weaker party in the suit. I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.
Michael K
August 16, 2023 at 8:16 am
He’s afraid. Very afraid. He thinks he can get away with everything and does not think things through.
Comments are closed.