In its battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the Walt Disney Company has shown that it can get nasty when needed. Just before the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District took over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, Disney struck a deal with the former Board, stripping the new Board of its power until years after the death of the last living descendent of King Charles III. The internet had a field day with DeSantis and his appointees getting outmaneuvered by Disney, but the Mouse House made a shrewd move.
Related: DeSantis Calls Disney ‘Idealogy Corrupting Institute’ in Bill Maher Interview
And when Governor DeSantis used the Florida Legislature to pass a law making all agreements between Disney and the Reedy Creek Board “null and void,” the Walt Disney Company fought back by suing DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in Federal Court, claiming government retaliation for Disney exercising its First Amendment Rights. It was, again, an unexpected and calculated move by Disney.
And now, Disney has escalated its fight with Florida Gov Ron DeSantis yet again. On Friday, lawyers representing Disney sent notice to the Governor’s office seeking documents, emails, and internal communications related to Disney and its development agreement. Disney threatened a subpoena if those documents were not received by October 27. Disney has asked in Federal Court that DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board members turn over those documents, but Disney has yet to receive them.
With those documents, Disney is trying to prove that there was a coordinated effort between the Governor’s office and the Florida Legislature to punish Disney for speaking out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law, known by its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Disney also amended its lawsuit on Thursday, claiming, according to the Associated Press, that the formation of the DeSantis Board violated the contracts clause of the United States Constitution. Disney also claims that when DeSantis and Florida lawmakers stripped Walt Disney World of its self-governing district, they violated the Constitution’s due process clause.
On Friday, the governor and the DeSantis appointees asked a Federal judge to throw out Disney’s First Amendment lawsuit against them, saying it was:
A last-ditch effort to reinstate its corporate kingdom. Although Disney has grabbed headlines by suing the Governor, Disney — like many litigants before it who have challenged Florida’s laws — has no basis for doing so.
Disney’s lawyer has until the end of the month to respond to the counterclaims.
While all this goes through the courts, Governor DeSantis is busy running for the Republican presidential nomination. Disney is investing $60 billion in its theme parks like Disney World. After these new claims, there is no timeframe for when either case will be heard in Federal or State Court.
We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.
