A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from the Walt Disney Co. against Ron DeSantis that may decide the entertainment giant’s authority to control development around its sprawling theme park.
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, in an order issued on Wednesday, found Disney “lacks standing to sue the governor” and DeSantis’ handpicked board that now controls the district in which the company’s park operates. He concluded that the statute reshaping the leadership structure and granting the governor the authority to appoint every member of the tax district’s governing body is “facially constitutional” and cannot be challenged with a free speech claim.
In a statement, a Disney spokesperson said, “This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here.” He added, “If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their...
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, in an order issued on Wednesday, found Disney “lacks standing to sue the governor” and DeSantis’ handpicked board that now controls the district in which the company’s park operates. He concluded that the statute reshaping the leadership structure and granting the governor the authority to appoint every member of the tax district’s governing body is “facially constitutional” and cannot be challenged with a free speech claim.
In a statement, a Disney spokesperson said, “This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here.” He added, “If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their...
- 1/31/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Donald Trump can beat Ron DeSantis, but turns out the Walt Disney Company can’t.
A federal judge just dismissed the Bob Iger-run corporation’s First Amendment lawsuit against the Florida governor and failed GOP presidential candidate.
“After a hearing and having carefully considered the parties’ arguments, I now grant both motions,” U.S. District Court Judge Allen Winsor wrote Wednesday, nearly two months after said hearing. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board, the group that now oversees a swath of Central Florida where Walt Disney World sits, also was a defendant in the case, along with DeSantis and a number of top members of his administration.
“In short, Disney lacks standing to sue the Governor or the Secretary, and its claims against the Cftod Defendants fail on the merits because when a statute is facially constitutional, a plaintiff cannot bring a free-speech challenge by claiming that the...
A federal judge just dismissed the Bob Iger-run corporation’s First Amendment lawsuit against the Florida governor and failed GOP presidential candidate.
“After a hearing and having carefully considered the parties’ arguments, I now grant both motions,” U.S. District Court Judge Allen Winsor wrote Wednesday, nearly two months after said hearing. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board, the group that now oversees a swath of Central Florida where Walt Disney World sits, also was a defendant in the case, along with DeSantis and a number of top members of his administration.
“In short, Disney lacks standing to sue the Governor or the Secretary, and its claims against the Cftod Defendants fail on the merits because when a statute is facially constitutional, a plaintiff cannot bring a free-speech challenge by claiming that the...
- 1/31/2024
- by Dominic Patten and Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board, the group that now oversees a swathe of central Florida where Walt Disney World sits, slammed the Bob Iger-led media giant for almost three hours straight over what its experts called decades of self-dealing they compiled into an audit. Board members, not surprisingly, voted to approve the document.
A lengthy report on Disney’s alleged misdeeds was published yesterday amid ongoing litigation between the media giant and Ron DeSantis. The Florida governor abolished Disney’s control of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, which had given the company wide autonomy in the area for half a century. He changed the name and replaced the old board with a handpicked new one. That happened soon after former Disney CEO Bob Chapek criticized DeSantis-backed legislation. Current chief Iger called the move retaliation, not business, and Disney is suing the governor for violating its right to free speech.
A lengthy report on Disney’s alleged misdeeds was published yesterday amid ongoing litigation between the media giant and Ron DeSantis. The Florida governor abolished Disney’s control of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, which had given the company wide autonomy in the area for half a century. He changed the name and replaced the old board with a handpicked new one. That happened soon after former Disney CEO Bob Chapek criticized DeSantis-backed legislation. Current chief Iger called the move retaliation, not business, and Disney is suing the governor for violating its right to free speech.
- 12/6/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ hand-picked oversight board will trade blows in different courts in a legal battle for control of the district that oversees development around the company’s theme parks.
The lawsuit, filed May 1 in the state court covering Florida’s Orange and Osceola counties, accuses the entertainment giant of covertly cobbling together a “series of eleventh-hour deals” to transfer the powers of its now-dissolved special district back to the company before DeSantis assumed control of the board. It escalates a clash between the Republican governor and the state’s largest employer, which claims retaliation in a dueling suit for voicing opposition to a state law.
The latest legal salvo challenges the validity of the development agreement, while Disney challenges a board vote and legislation declaring that deal void. The cases will simultaneously proceed, at least for now, in state and federal court. If Disney wins on...
The lawsuit, filed May 1 in the state court covering Florida’s Orange and Osceola counties, accuses the entertainment giant of covertly cobbling together a “series of eleventh-hour deals” to transfer the powers of its now-dissolved special district back to the company before DeSantis assumed control of the board. It escalates a clash between the Republican governor and the state’s largest employer, which claims retaliation in a dueling suit for voicing opposition to a state law.
The latest legal salvo challenges the validity of the development agreement, while Disney challenges a board vote and legislation declaring that deal void. The cases will simultaneously proceed, at least for now, in state and federal court. If Disney wins on...
- 5/2/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight board, newly installed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to oversee the district where Walt Disney World is located, voted on Monday to sue the entertainment studio. This comes just days after Disney filed a lawsuit against the board, for what they perceive as retaliatory behavior by the governor.
“Since Disney sued us –- yes, we didn’t sue Disney, Disney sued us –- we have no choice now but to respond,” Martin Garcia, chairman of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors, said. “Yes, we’ll seek justice in our own backyard.”
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Disney’s original lawsuit stems from DeSantis and the rest of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s board discovering that a meeting held by the former Reedy Creek Improvement District board, which had...
“Since Disney sued us –- yes, we didn’t sue Disney, Disney sued us –- we have no choice now but to respond,” Martin Garcia, chairman of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors, said. “Yes, we’ll seek justice in our own backyard.”
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Disney’s original lawsuit stems from DeSantis and the rest of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s board discovering that a meeting held by the former Reedy Creek Improvement District board, which had...
- 5/1/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
If there’s one thing to learn from the long, long legal battle between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Walt Disney World, it’s that the House of Mouse clearly has some bite. About a month after Florida lawmakers contested a last-minute document the Walt Disney company pushed out prior to the takeover of their resort’s special tax district, another agreement wresting power away from the state has been uncovered.
Per Reuters, Martin Garcia, the chairman of the DeSantis-appointed board assigned to oversee Disney World’s special tax district, said during a public meeting on Wednesday that an agreement signed in February by the old Disney-appointed board has been uncovered. The agreement, made between the board and a Disney subsidiary that provides utility services to Walt Disney World, extended the contract with the subsidiary until 2032, meaning the Disney Corporation can set their own utility rates until that year.
Probably not coincidentally,...
Per Reuters, Martin Garcia, the chairman of the DeSantis-appointed board assigned to oversee Disney World’s special tax district, said during a public meeting on Wednesday that an agreement signed in February by the old Disney-appointed board has been uncovered. The agreement, made between the board and a Disney subsidiary that provides utility services to Walt Disney World, extended the contract with the subsidiary until 2032, meaning the Disney Corporation can set their own utility rates until that year.
Probably not coincidentally,...
- 4/20/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed a guy who thinks tap water will turn you gay to Disney’s new governance board — and no, it’s not Alex Jones. According to CNN’s KFile, Ron Peri, a former pastor from Orlando, once said that the number of LGBTQ individuals was increasing because of high estrogen levels in tap water.
“Why are there homosexuals today?” Peri speculated in a 2022 Zoom call with members of his ministry group The Gathering. “Some would say the increase in estrogen in our societies. You know, there...
“Why are there homosexuals today?” Peri speculated in a 2022 Zoom call with members of his ministry group The Gathering. “Some would say the increase in estrogen in our societies. You know, there...
- 3/3/2023
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
Gov. Ron DeSantis has assumed control of the board that oversees development at Walt Disney World, seizing leverage over the state’s largest employer and retaliating against the entertainment giant for opposing the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.
“Today, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,” he said Monday at a bill signing ceremony on Disney property. “There’s a new sheriff in town, and accountability will be the order of the day.”
Under the law, effective immediately, DeSantis has the authority to appoint every member of the special tax district’s five-member governing body subject to approval by the state Senate. At the news conference, DeSantis said Florida attorney Martin Garcia will serve as chairman. The board will include Brian Aungst Jr., a lawyer and son of a former Republican mayor of one of Florida’s largest cities, Florida Republican Party chairman Christian Ziegler, Bridget Ziegler, a conservative school board member,...
“Today, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,” he said Monday at a bill signing ceremony on Disney property. “There’s a new sheriff in town, and accountability will be the order of the day.”
Under the law, effective immediately, DeSantis has the authority to appoint every member of the special tax district’s five-member governing body subject to approval by the state Senate. At the news conference, DeSantis said Florida attorney Martin Garcia will serve as chairman. The board will include Brian Aungst Jr., a lawyer and son of a former Republican mayor of one of Florida’s largest cities, Florida Republican Party chairman Christian Ziegler, Bridget Ziegler, a conservative school board member,...
- 2/28/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law that strips The Walt Disney Co. of its 55-year control over a special district covering its Florida theme parks.
The move — punishment after the company spoke out against DeSantis’ parental rights legislation last year — means that he will appoint the members of the five-member Reedy Creek Improvement District board.
At a signing ceremony held at a fire station on the Disney property, DeSantis said of the company, “When you lose your way, you got to have people who are going to tell you the truth.”
DeSantis also announced his nominees for the board, which are subject to Florida Senate confirmation. They include attorney Brian Aungst; attorney Martin Garcia, selected as chairman; Ron Peri, the CEO of The Gathering USA ministry; attorney Michael Sasso; and Bridget Ziegler, a member of the Sarasota County School Board and a supporter of Moms for Liberty.
The board...
The move — punishment after the company spoke out against DeSantis’ parental rights legislation last year — means that he will appoint the members of the five-member Reedy Creek Improvement District board.
At a signing ceremony held at a fire station on the Disney property, DeSantis said of the company, “When you lose your way, you got to have people who are going to tell you the truth.”
DeSantis also announced his nominees for the board, which are subject to Florida Senate confirmation. They include attorney Brian Aungst; attorney Martin Garcia, selected as chairman; Ron Peri, the CEO of The Gathering USA ministry; attorney Michael Sasso; and Bridget Ziegler, a member of the Sarasota County School Board and a supporter of Moms for Liberty.
The board...
- 2/27/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
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