ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — legal battle Relations between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis gradually deteriorated this week.
Florida’s governor has asked a federal court to dismiss a First Amendment lawsuit against the company, but Disney has filed a separate state court lawsuit originally filed by DeSantis’ appointees in the Walt Disney World management district. The lawsuit requested emails, text messages and other communications from the governor’s office.
The filing of the lawsuit marks an escalation in the battle between the entertainment giant and 2024 Republican presidential candidate DeSantis. The conflict began last year when Disney publicly objected. State Law Banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, DeSantis retaliated by taking over the governing district that provides municipal services to the 25,000-acre (10,117-hectare) Disney World theme park resort in Florida. .
Disney sued DeSantis federal courtargued that the governor violated his right to free speech by punishing him for expressing opposition to the law.
On Thursday, DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, a jurisdiction made up of DeSantis appointees, said Disney’s First Amendment lawsuit was meritless and that it was “an important step in restoring the corporate kingdom.” He asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit, calling it a “last-ditch effort.”
“Disney made headlines by suing the Governor, but like many litigants who have challenged Florida law, Disney has no basis to do so,” DeSantis’ motion said.
Meanwhile, the district, currently controlled by DeSantis appointees, has sued Disney. state court. The lawsuit alleges that agreements reached before DeSantis’ appointees took office transferred design and construction control from the school district to Disney and prohibited the school district from using likenesses of Disney characters and other intellectual property without Disney’s permission. This is an attempt to invalidate a prior agreement to prohibit Disney filed a counterclaim, including asking a state court to declare the contract valid and enforceable. The company amended those counterclaims Thursday, saying the district controlled by DeSantis violates the U.S. Constitution’s provisions regarding contracts and due process.
Disney also sent a notice to Mr. DeSantis’ office requesting internal communications, including text messages, emails, and documents related to the district’s comprehensive plan, development agreements, and legislation transferring control of the district to Mr. DeSantis. The notice said a subpoena would be issued requiring the governor’s office to turn over the materials to Disney’s lawyers by Oct. 27.
Disney lawyers also sent subpoena notices to other jurisdictions, including similar special districts in Florida. Disney wants to show that the way it notified the public about the deal, which stripped DeSantis allies of design and construction authority, is consistent with what other districts are doing. DeSantis allies argue that one reason the deal should be invalidated is that it was not properly publicized.
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