Agreements that Disney made with the governing district for Walt Disney World earlier than it was taken over by appointees of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis weren’t legally legitimate, and the corporate’s counterclaims in opposition to the district ought to be dismissed, the governing physique stated in court docket papers filed this week.
The governing district now managed by supporters of the Republican governor stated in court docket papers Wednesday {that a} state court docket choose ought to dismiss Disney’s counterclaims. The counterclaims search a court docket declaration that the agreements are legitimate and that the district’s board of DeSantis allies violated the corporate’s contracts, free speech and due course of rights.
The agreements shifted management over design and building at Disney World from the district to the corporate and prohibited the district from utilizing the likeness of Disney characters or different mental property with out Disney’s permission. The agreements had been signed in February earlier than the district takeover by the DeSantis appointees, who declare the contracts neutered their powers for the district that gives municipal companies for Disney World.
The takeover of the district, which was beforehand managed by Disney allies, got here after the corporate publicly opposed a state law banning classroom classes on sexual orientation and gender id in early grades.
The contracts weren’t correctly publicized and the Disney supporters on the district’s board on the time didn’t have the authorized authority to signal the agreements, the district now-controlled by DeSantis supporters stated on this week’s court docket papers.
“Disney has didn’t allege any info that reveal the existence of damages,” stated the district, referred to as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District for the reason that takeover after being referred to as the Reedy Creek Enchancment District for the earlier 55 years.
Disney and DeSantis and his allies are also battling in federal court docket, the place the corporate has sued DeSantis, claiming the governor violated its free speech rights by punishing it for expressing opposition to the legislation. DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District have requested a federal choose to throw out Disney’s First Modification lawsuit, calling it meritless.
DeSantis at the moment is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
