Photo by Seif Abukhalaf on Unsplash
Judge Dismisses Disney’s Lawsuit Against Ron DeSantis
January 31, 2024
The Walt Disney Company’s legal battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis saw a U.S. judge pass a decision in favor of the governor, dismissing the lawsuit filed by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. This comes as a significant development in the ongoing feud between the entertainment company and the Florida administration.
The litigation initiated by Disney in April suggested that Governor DeSantis is exploiting his political influence to penalize the company for expressing its freedom of speech. However, the recent ruling identifies a lack of standing in Disney’s case against the governor. The judge decided that Disney hadn’t specified any direct actions taken by the new board due to DeSantis’ supposed control, leading to the dismissal of the lawsuit.
Despite this setback, Disney remains resolute in its legal pursuit. The company announced its intention to press forward with its case, highlighting the critical implications it holds for the rule of law. The firm warns of a potentially dangerous precedent if the ruling remains unchallenged. It argues that states may “weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with,” thus undermining free speech.
The lawsuit dismissal adds further tension to the ongoing political and legal conflict between Disney and DeSantis. The feud was stimulated by a bill signed by DeSantis, which transferred power over the area surrounding the Walt Disney World Resort to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, governed by a board selected by the governor.
Prior to this, Disney held municipal authority over areas surrounding its theme parks. The newly formed board has raised concerns by threatening to increase taxes, escalate utility rates, and devise plans for land development around Disney’s Central Florida theme parks.
The disagreement between the governor and Disney commenced nearly two years ago following Disney’s denouncement of a bill supported by DeSantis. This controversial bill, criticized as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, intended to curb discussing certain aspects of sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms.
In its lawsuit, Disney argued that Governor DeSantis and the oversight board were retaliating against the company for its stand against the bill. In response to the dismissal, DeSantis’ press secretary expressed no surprise and asserted that Disney, like any other corporation in the state, isn’t entitled to its own government.
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