Disney ditches most of its federal lawsuit against Ron DeSantis only leaving First Amendment claims it was targeted for criticizing the ‘don’t say gay bill’
Disney has dropped much of its federal lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, leaving only a battle over whether the media giant’s rights would be violated.
Walt Disney Corp. on Friday asked a federal judge for permission to file an amended complaint focusing only on the First Amendment claim, which was approved.
According to the claim, the House of Mouse has been retaliated against for its criticism of the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Parts of the lawsuit related to contract agreements have been dropped from the federal case because they are part of a similar case being heard in Florida court.
“We will continue to fight vigorously to defend these contracts because these agreements will determine whether Disney can invest billions of dollars and generate thousands of new jobs in Florida,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement.
The Walt Disney Company’s federal lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been reduced to a single lawsuit alleging that it was the target of criticism of the governor’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Pictured: Disney Chairman Bob Iger
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accused the company of “wakeful” practices after criticizing the bill
Disney and Florida are now embroiled in battles in federal and state courts over DeSantis’ attempt to take control of the Orlando theme park tax district
After Disney criticized the DeSantis-backed bill, the governor fired back at the company and chairman Bob Iger, accusing them of being “awake.”
DeSantis targeted Disney’s special tax district, which effectively let the company run the land of its Disney World theme park itself. DeSantis led the effort to change the name from Reedy District to Central Florida Tourism Oversight District while also replacing the board with his allies.
However, before the new board took control, Disney created a development contract for future investment. Those were thrown out when the DeSantis board took control.
That led to the federal lawsuit.
The DeSantis board subsequently took Disney to court, where the contract claims will now be heard.
DeSantis said in August that he has put his war with Disney behind him and urged CEO Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit against him.
The federal complaint now focuses on whether DeSantis targeted Disney for speaking out on the bill that restricted gender discussion in some schools.
“Disney faces concrete, threatened and sustained harm as a result of the new powers and composition of the CFOD, which are being used to punish Disney for expressing a political position,” the Disney federal court motion said.
The revised complaint would “challenge this unconstitutional arming of the government by seeking a declaratory judgment that will allow Disney to pursue its future in Florida, free from the continued retaliation of the CFOD Board,” Disney said.
The Disney request, as well as other recent motions filed in the state case, show how the fates of the two lawsuits have become intertwined, especially after Disney filed a counterclaim in the state case, alleging many of the same claims made in the federal case were done. case.
The board told CNBC it was “glad that Disney was backing down on these legal claims against the district in their federal case.”
Disney’s latest legal move aligns them with the position the district has been advocating for months: that these cases should be decided by the state courts. We hope this will help expedite justice for the people of Florida,” Alexei Woltornist, a spokesman for the district, said in a statement.
In August, Florida Governor Bob Iger, CEO of Walt Disney Co., urged the lawsuit against his administration to be dropped, claiming he had engaged in political retaliation in the war that had ensued when former CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against his education policies.
Republican presidential nominee for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis holds his daughter Madison as he walks alongside his wife Casey DeSantis
In conversation with CNBC in an interview, DeSantis said he and his allies “basically moved on” from the fight with Disney.
“All I’d say is go back to what you did right,” DeSantis said as his final word on the matter. “I think this will be the right business decision and all.”
“They are suing the state of Florida. They’re going to lose that lawsuit,” he added, claiming that if Iger called him today, he would advise him to “drop the lawsuit.”
He also said he would tell the CEO, “This is a great place to do business. Your competitors are all doing very well here, Universal, SeaWorld. They have not had the same special privileges as you.’
According to recent polls, the Sunshine State currently has the best economy in the country, ranking eighth in CNBC’s ranking of America’s Top States of Business in 2023.
“All we want to do is treat everyone the same, and let’s move on,” DeSantis said, ready to bury the hatchet. ‘I think that’s totally fine. But I don’t think it’s right to give extraordinary privileges to a special company to the exclusion of all others.’
The lawsuit against DeSantis was initiated after he stripped the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, of the special privileges it had been granted decades earlier.
After Disney began what DeSantis said was an improper balancing act in government affairs—such as his Parental Bill of Rights, dubbed by critics the “Don’t Say Gay” bill—he began to focus more fiercely on Central Florida’s largest employer and specifically on their special tax district.
The lawsuit against DeSantis was initiated after he stripped the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, of the special privileges it had been granted decades earlier
The area has become a major battleground in the governor’s long-running feud with Disney.
He first stripped down the board by signing a bill in February that gave him the control to choose a brand new board himself. He then promised to abolish any special exemptions the territory received for paying taxes to the state.
After the new board was installed, Disney entered into long-term development deals that the panel alleges were an attempt to thwart their power grab. The board voted to void the contracts, prompting Disney to file a lawsuit in federal court.
A 45-year-old Republican caucus-goer at the Iowa State Fair told DailyMail.com on Thursday that he is “tired” of DeSantis’ whole “war with Disney,” saying it distracts from the real issues. He said former President Donald Trump will win the nomination because of his focus on Disney and other “awake” issues.