Disney wants to narrow it down Federal lawsuit Ron DeSantis for simply free speech alleging that the Florida governor retaliated against the company for its public opposition to a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades.
On Friday, Disney asked a federal judge for permission to file an amended complaint that focuses solely on and leaves out the First Amendment claim Another lawsuit before the state court Questions about the legality of the agreements the company had with the Disney World governing region, which was then made up of Disney supporters. The agreements were signed before DeSantis and the GOP-controlled Florida legislature took charge of the state body in the spring.
The agreements shifted control of the design and construction of the theme park resort from DeSantis’ new hires to the company’s board of directors. Central Florida Tourism Control District (CFTOD) to Disney. DeSantis’ appointees are now challenging the legality of the agreements in state court. DeSantis is not a party to the lawsuit filed by the state court.
“Disney faces significant, imminent and continuing harm as a result of the powers and new composition of the CFTOD, which is being used to sanction Disney for expressing a political point of view,” the federal court’s filing reads.
Disney said the revised complaint would challenge “this unconstitutional weaponization of government by seeking declaratory judgment allowing Disney to pursue its future in Florida free from the CFTOD’s board of directors’ continued retaliation.”
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor on Friday denied Disney’s request to narrow the scope due to a procedural rule that requires Disney attorneys to consult with DeSantis’ attorneys before making such a motion. The judge said Disney could reinstate its application after complying with the court’s ruling. An email seeking comment was sent to Disney’s attorneys on Sunday.
Disney’s request, as well as others filed recently in the state case, illustrate how intertwined the fates of the two cases have become, especially after Disney filed a counterclaim in the state case confirming many of the same claims made in the federal case. Disney filed the counterclaim after a state court judge denied Disney’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
The battle between DeSantis and Disney began last year after the company faced off Big pressure Home and abroad, they have publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in the early grades, a policy critics call the policy “Don’t say gay.”
as punishment, DeSantis took control of the district Through legislation Florida lawmakers passed and appointed a new Board of Supervisors to oversee municipal services to the sprawling parks and hotels. But the power of the new supervisors was limited by the company’s agreements with its predecessors.
In response, legislators in DeSantis and Florida passed legislation that nullified those agreements.
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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @Mike SchneiderAP
