A state judge has denied Disney's request to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at invalidating a loophole the entertainment giant used to regain control over its central Florida theme park. The legal
dispute revolves around an agreement Disney made in February with a previous board that had authority over the park. This agreement effectively handed back control to Disney for decades after the Florida Legislature had stripped the company of its autonomy.
The state lawsuit, filed by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, accuses Disney of engaging in a questionable backroom deal that violated state law and rendered the agreement null and void. Judge Margaret Schreiber's ruling in favor of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is seen as a victory for Governor Ron DeSantis, who has supported the board's efforts against Disney.
It's important to note that this state lawsuit is separate from a federal lawsuit initiated by Disney in April. In the federal suit, Disney claims that DeSantis and his appointed board infringed on the company's First Amendment rights and retaliated against it for opposing Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, which restricts teachers from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation with young students.
Disney remains confident in its stance and has emphasized that the state court ruling does not impact its ongoing federal case. The feud between DeSantis and Disney has escalated over the past year and has garnered attention due to DeSantis' presidential ambitions, where he references this clash during his campaigns.
While Democrats have criticized DeSantis over the dispute, some of his Republican rivals, including former Governor Chris Christie and former President Donald Trump, have also weighed in on the matter. The tension between DeSantis and Disney continues to be a notable topic in Florida's political landscape. Photo by Jrobertiko, Wikimedia commons.