Disney says in lawsuit that DeSantis-appointed government is failing to release public records
ORLANDO, Fla. — Disney has filed a lawsuit alleging that the government overseeing Walt Disney World, which was taken over earlier this year by appointees of Governor Ron DeSantis, failed to release documents and properly preserve documents, which in violates Florida public records law.
Disney said in the lawsuit filed Friday that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, often called CFOD, has been so slow to fulfill its public records duties that it has failed to fully respond to a request the company made seven months ago when it paid more than $2,400 to receive emails and text messages from the five district board members appointed by DeSantis.
Disney, DeSantis and DeSantis appointees are already battling for control of the government in two ongoing lawsuits in federal and state court.
The public records lawsuit asks a judge to review all documents that the district claims are exempt from release, declare that the district is violating the state's public records law and order the district to release the documents requested by Disney has asked.
“CFTOD prevented Disney from discovering its government's actions through public records requests in violation of Florida law,” according to the lawsuit filed in state court in Orlando. “The Court should grant relief to Disney.”
An email was sent to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District seeking comment.
The new lawsuit alleges the district is failing to comply with public records laws in other ways, such as by allowing DeSantis-appointed board members to use personal email addresses and texts for district business without due process is to ensure that these are preserved, and that the district does not fail to use them. Ensure that board members do not automatically delete posts about district business.
The feud between DeSantis and Disney began last year after the company publicly opposed the state's so-called “don't-say gay” law, which bans classroom lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. The law was championed by DeSantis, who is running for the Republican Party's 2024 presidential nomination. In retaliation, DeSantis and Republican lawmakers took over the district that Disney had controlled for more than fifty years and installed five board members loyal to the governor .
About 50 of its roughly 370 employees have left the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District since it was taken over in February, raising concerns that decades of institutional knowledge will disappear with them, along with the reputation of a well-run government.
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