The Florida Governor asked that the company’s First Amendment lawsuit against him be tossed from federal court, and Disney demanded emails, texts and other communications from the Governor’s Office in a separate state court lawsuit originally brought by DeSantis appointees of Walt Disney World’s governing district.
The legal filings marked an escalation in the battle between the entertainment giant and DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. The confrontation started last year when Disney publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, and DeSantis retaliated by taking over the governing district that provides municipal services for the 25,000-acre Disney World theme park resort in Florida.
Disney has sued DeSantis in federal court, claiming the governor violated its free speech rights by punishing it for expressing opposition to the law.
On Thursday, DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the governing district made up of DeSantis appointees, asked a federal judge to throw out Disney’s First Amendment lawsuit, calling it meritless and “a last-ditch effort to reinstate its corporate kingdom.”
“Although Disney has grabbed headlines by suing the Governor, Disney — like many litigants before it who have challenged Florida’s laws — has no basis for doing so,” DeSantis’ motion said.
Meanwhile, the governing district now controlled by DeSantis appointees has sued Disney in state court. The suit is an attempt to void prior agreements, made before the DeSantis appointees took over, that shifted control over design and construction to Disney from the district and prohibited the district from using the likeness of Disney characters or other intellectual property without Disney’s permission. Disney filed counterclaims that include asking a state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable. The company amended those counterclaims on Thursday, saying the DeSantis-controlled district was in violation of the U.S. Constitution stipulations on contracts and due process.
Disney also sent a notice to DeSantis’ office demanding internal communications, including text messages and emails, and documents regarding the district’s comprehensive plan, the development agreements and the legislation that shifted control of the district to DeSantis. The notice said a subpoena would be issued requiring the Governor’s Office to turn over the materials to Disney’s attorneys by Oct. 27.
The Disney attorneys also sent notices of subpoenas to others, including similar special districts in Florida. Disney wants to show that the manner in which it gave public notice about the agreements which stripped the DeSantis allies of design and construction powers was consistent with what other districts do. The DeSantis allies are arguing that one of the reasons the agreements should be invalidated is they weren’t properly publicized.
In response to the demand for communications and documents, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District said that some of Disney’s requests were “overbroad, unduly oppressive, and an improper fishing expedition.”
Associated Press
10 comments
Joe
October 1, 2023 at 10:24 am
Disney can keep this going longer than lame duck term-limited Tiny D. Looking forward to this angry pipsqueak’s decline and fall.
My Take
October 1, 2023 at 3:26 pm
“Looking forward to this angry pipsqueak’s decline and fall.”
======
Às are many many others.
Cheesy Floridan
October 2, 2023 at 11:52 am
Got my popcorn ready to go. Can’t believe I’m rooting for corporate lawyers but Disney should win
Rick Whitaker
October 1, 2023 at 10:50 am
in the article i was struck by 2 desantis quotes. ” disney was grabbing headlines by suing” and “disney was on an improper fishing expeditions”. those are 2 examples of trumpian projection. desantis seems to mimic trump very closely by lying and distorting everything he don’t like. how authoritarian of him. i hope disney has a decisive and quick victory in court.
Cbarnard
October 1, 2023 at 4:21 pm
Lying is the default position of the Republican Party, and all fascists
To know what these people are really doing, merely look at what they accuse their opponents of doing…
Rick Whitaker
October 1, 2023 at 6:15 pm
what about raygun’s trickle down statement. all these years later and i’m still waiting for my share of the pie.
Rick Whitaker
October 1, 2023 at 6:15 pm
what about raygun’s trickle down statement. all these years later and i’m still waiting for my share of the pie.
PeterH
October 1, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Disney is draining the Florida swamp and they’re going to find more than a few current Florida legislators, Florida’s current attorney general and a klown kar full of political operatives swept up in this current of business interference! Florida taxpayers will be paying the price in legal costs to defend these corrupt government klowns! Elections have consequences!
Sonja Fitch
October 2, 2023 at 4:45 am
Who, what, when and ever has done for Floridians. Disney or Desantis ?
DISNEY wins for the common good!
Sonja Fitch
October 2, 2023 at 4:45 am
Who, what, when and ever has done for Floridians. Disney or Desantis ?
DISNEY wins for the common good!
Comments are closed.