Disney is asking the judge to drop the lawsuit against appointee DeSantis

ORLANDO, FL –

Disney is asking a Florida judge on Friday to drop a lawsuit against the company’s efforts to neutralize a takeover of Disney World’s governing district by Governor Ron DeSantis and his appointees.

The one-hour hearing in Orlando state court concerns one of two cases between the Disney and DeSantis or its administrative district appointees arising from the acquisition, which was in retaliation for the company’s public opposition to the so-called Don’ t Say Gay legislation championed by DeSantis and Republican state legislators.

Disney and DeSantis have been embroiled in a year-long feud that the governor has touted during his run for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, often accusing the entertainment giant of being too “awake.” Disney has accused the governor of violating free speech.

Disney argues before Circuit Judge Margaret Schreiber that any decision would be moot in state court, since the Republican-controlled legislature has already passed a law voiding the agreements. If the judge decides not to dismiss the state case, the entertainment giant will request that the state case be stayed until a federal lawsuit is resolved in Tallahassee, since they are on the same ground and that lawsuit is the first to be filed.

In that case, Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in an attempt to stop the acquisition, alleging that the governor violated the company’s freedom of speech and “used the power of the government to pursue private matters.” punish”.

The DeSantis appointees on the district board ask that their case not be dismissed, telling the circuit judge that it is not arguable and that it would be inappropriate to put it on hold. DeSantis is not a party to the state court lawsuit.

“Disney’s motion is classic Imagineering, inviting the court to make believe that reality is whatever Disney imagines,” lawyers for the supervisory district board said in a lawsuit.

The battle between DeSantis and Disney began last year after the company, which was under intense pressure both internally and externally, publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in the first grades, a policy critic calling “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 before the new board took office, the company made arrangements with previous board members who were Disney supporters, stripping the new supervisors of their authority over design and construction.

In response, DeSantis and Florida lawmakers passed legislation repealing these agreements.

Disney announced in May that it was scrapping plans to build a new campus in central Florida and relocate 2,000 employees from Southern California to digital technology, finance and product development. Disney planned to build the campus about 20 miles from the giant Walt Disney World theme park resort.

In an interview this week on CNBC, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company doesn’t want to be involved in culture wars.

“Our goal is to continue to tell wonderful stories and make a positive, positive impact on the world,” Iger said.