The ruling could undercut Disney as it sues the board and DeSantis in federal court.
Topline
A state judge delivered a win Friday to board members Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed to oversee Walt Disney World’s special district, multiple outlets report, as the court ruled the board members’ lawsuit against Disney over a development agreement that hamstrings the board’s power can move forward in court—possibly undercutting Disney’s separate legal case against DeSantis and his allies in federal court.Key Facts
Board members appointed to oversee the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (formerly known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District) countersued Disney in state court in May after the company filed a federal lawsuit against DeSantis and the board, which argues the Florida government illegally retaliated against Disney after the company opposed the state’s Parental Rights in Education law, known by critics as “Don’t Say Gay.”
After the state legislature passed a law that replaced the special district’s board with DeSantis appointees, the DeSantis board members discovered a last-minute development agreement and restrictive covenants between Disney and the previous board took away much of their power over the special district, and their lawsuit asks the state court to void those agreements.
Disney filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing the state legislature made the case moot by enacting a separate law that’s also aimed at voiding Disney’s agreements, and said if the court doesn’t dismiss the case completely, it should at least pause the lawsuit until after Disney’s federal lawsuit is resolved.
The board disagreed, saying the lawsuit is still relevant and calling Disney’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit “classic Imagineering” that “invit[es] the Court to make believe that reality is whatever Disney dreams up.
