A Florida judge has ruled in favor of Governor Ron DeSantis in a dispute with Walt Disney, refusing to dismiss a lawsuit brought by an oversight district.
This decision could potentially complicate Disney’s own case against DeSantis, as the feud between the entertainment giant and the governor has been ongoing for a year.
The oversight district’s lawsuit aims to nullify “backroom deals” that were previously made with Disney by a prior district board earlier in the year. If these deals are invalidated, it could significantly weaken Disney’s federal case against DeSantis.
In response to the ruling, a Disney spokesperson expressed confidence in their federal lawsuit, stating that the decision would not affect their efforts to protect their constitutional rights.
The conflict between Disney and DeSantis began when Disney criticized a Florida law prohibiting discussions about sexuality and gender identity with younger students. DeSantis, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, has been vocal in his criticism of “woke Disney.”
To counter Disney’s stance, DeSantis rallied lawmakers to pass bills that restructured the oversight district as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and shifted control of the board from Disney to the governor. Additionally, previous agreements that Disney had with the prior board were retroactively nullified.
In April, Disney filed its federal lawsuit against DeSantis, claiming that the governor had misused the state government to retaliate against the company for opposing the classroom gender discussion law. The company sought to prevent the state from enforcing laws targeting them and to reinstate the development agreements they had with the previous district board.
Despite this recent ruling against them, Disney remains resolute in their determination to prevail in both the state and federal cases. The oversight district has not provided any comments regarding the judge’s decision.
The ongoing legal battle between Disney and DeSantis highlights the complex intersection of politics and corporate interests, and its outcome could have significant implications for both parties involved.
