The counterclaims were filed as part of Disneys defenses to the suit by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) accusing the company of illegally stripping the board of its authority. McDonald said, "It has hurt us deeply. Well, Im not a crook.. The case still ultimately falls under chief judge Mark Walker. Schumer: You hear a private company gets to write their own codes [and think] theyre going to be super lax. After the bill was signed in March 2022, Disney vowed to help repeal it. But DeSantis has frequently invoked his battle with Disney on the campaign trail as he seeks the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. What can DeSantiss board members do in the meantime, though? DeSantis then threatened more legislative combativeness, and finally Disney filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court for the Northern District of Florida alleging retaliation by the governor and illegal voiding of contracts, asking for a return to the status quo. I think it does matter somewhat who hears the case, although it shouldnt and might not since both liberal and conservative judges have frequently been supportive of free speech rights. They have not had the same special privileges as you have," DeSantis said he'd tell Iger. The governor and his allies targeted the district which has allowed the Orlando-area theme park to essentially self-govern its operations since the 1960s shortly after Disney denounced a controversial GOP-backed classroom bill last year. stripped Disney of its self-governing authority, DeSantis wants to end Disney World's special status in Florida. 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As one specific example, DeSantis has said the state will take away the power of Disney to conduct their own pool and ride inspections, but leave those powers with competitors like Sea World and Universal. "We are fully confident Disney will prevail in both the federal and state cases," the spokesperson said in an email. During the public comment portion of Mondays meeting, a man who has a Disney timeshare told the board members, You guys are terrible, and I think you all should resign.. Yet the governor has seen his stock plummet amid criticism he comes across as wooden, inauthentic, and unrelatable. But I'm not fine with giving extraordinary privileges, you know, to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else," he said. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. The entrance to Walt Disney Worlds Reedy Creek Improvement District headquarters in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.TNS. DeSantis says he's 'basically moved on' from the Disney feud and now wants Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit against Florida that legal experts say the company could win. August 18, 2023 11:56am. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, People gather ahead of the "Festival of Fantasy" parade at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida, U.S. July 30, 2022. Disney advocated for the creation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District to be created in 1967 so that the company could set its own building codes and standards, and could tax itself to enable the development of its 25,000 acres (39 sq. It's the latest action in a feud that began more than a year ago when Disney's former CEO said he'd work to overturn a law banning discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the schools. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. We will seek justice in our own backyard, Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, said at Monday mornings special meeting approving the lawsuit. Donald Trump, who was indicted for trying to overturn the 2020 election, maintains a strong lead over DeSantis in the Republican primary. Cars line-up to enter Walt Disney World on February 08, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. DeSantis to Disney: Drop the lawsuit, let's move forward. The vote Wednesday, April 26, 2023, by the governors appointees voids a last-minute deal that placed control of theme park design and construction decisions Disneys hands. Disney v. DeSantis is a lawsuit brought against Florida governor Ron DeSantis by the Parks, Experiences and Products division of The Walt Disney Company in 2023 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.The case, filed by Disney, claims that DeSantis, alongside Florida Department of Economic Opportunity acting secretary Meredith Ivey, and the Central Florida . Several said they were concerned new regulations and taxes could raise their costs and make their businesses unprofitable. People gather ahead of the "Festival of Fantasy" parade at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida, U.S. July 30, 2022. In a normal political environment, the governor mightve defended his position and expressed his disagreement with the company, at which point the relevant players wouldve moved on. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. By comparison, Disney openly expressed it was extremely disappointed that the state of California would not let it open its smaller theme park in Anaheim, Calif. Disneyland only began welcoming visitors again on April 30 of the following year, after being closed for more than 13 months straight. Inside the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Musical Episode Picard Almost Got There First, the longstanding special administrative zone (the Reedy Creek Improvement District), DeSantis then threatened more legislative combativeness. DeSantis wildly unnecessary fight with his states largest private employers hasnt exactly paid political dividends. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Schumer: One compromise that might make everybody happy and might actually be consistent with equality is replacing the governor-appointed board with Orange and Osceola County appointees. Ron DeSantis appointees filed a lawsuit Monday against the entertainment giant. The governor and the legislature put in bright lights, they lit it up in a billboard, saying this is retaliation and retaliation specifically for protected speech, which is prohibited under the First Amendment. DeSantis: No one has made Disney more money recently than me IE 11 is not supported. Florida Residents' Lawsuit Against DeSantis' Disney - Deadline But in DeSantis Land, theres nothing especially normal about politics: The far-right governor responded to the modest and inconsequential criticism by picking an ugly and prolonged fight with Disney which included real consequences in terms of local governance in part to punish the corporate giant for daring to disagree with him in public, and in part to send a signal to others that hed retaliate against anyone who challenged his positions. Disney is pushing back against Gov. The feud between DeSantis and Disney started last year after the company, in the face of significant pressure, publicly opposed legislation concerning lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades that critics called Dont Say Gay.. ORLANDO, Fla. -- A federal judge overseeing the First Amendment lawsuit that Walt Disney Parks filed against Gov. The Florida Lawsuit Explained Three experts spoke to IndieWire assessing the winnability of Disney's retaliation lawsuit against DeSantis over the Florida governor's moves against the. DeSantis rallied lawmakers to pass bills that reconstituted the district as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and transferred power over the board to the governor from Disney. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP and Chris duMond/Getty Images. Walt Disney World is the most visited vacation destination in the world, with an average attendance of 58 million visitors a year part of why the Parks unit is the biggest revenue stream for the Walt Disney Co. Jewett: At this moment, we do not know which judge will hear the case, [though chief judge Mark Walker oversees the district]. Think about the massive breaks given car manufacturers or high tech businesses (FL has given huge breaks to numerous bio tech firms). More than half the worlds population sees AP journalism every day. Read the lawsuit here. Theres no way that the state can get around that part because of all the public statements DeSantis and legislators have made [including what Republican state representative Randy Fine said when he introduced the bill to dissolve the special district: This bill does target one company: it targets the Walt Disney Company] and the timing, and a million other things. Despite what Governor DeSantis has said, the lawsuit is not just political. "So what I would say is, drop the lawsuit," the governor said when asked what he would tell Iger if he were to give him a call today. Theyre suing the state of Florida, he said, speaking of Disneys board during hisCNBCinterview on Monday. They're going to lose that lawsuit," DeSantis said in an interview with CNBC's "Last Call" set to air in full at 7 p.m. IndieWire spoke to three experts: Jacob Schumer, a land-use attorney specializing in local government affairs based in the Orlando suburbs; political science professor Aubrey Jewett, who is an assistant director at the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs at the University of Central Florida; and First Amendment scholar and law professor RonNell Andersen Jones at the University of Utah. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District's latest motion in its state lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts seeks to bypass a trial with an early judgment. On Monday, he urged Disney to drop the lawsuit, saying hes moved on.. Disney rejects Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' attempt to leave lawsuit Ron DeSantis on Monday said that Disney CEO Bob Iger should drop his company's lawsuit accusing the Republican governor of political retaliation. Ron DeSantis and others is disqualifying himself, but not because of bias claims made by the Florida governor. Disneys lawsuit was the latest tug-of-war in a more than year-old feud between Disney and DeSantis that has engulfed the governor in criticism as he prepares to launch an expected presidential bid in the coming months. Florida Gov. Behind heavily in the polls, presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis has a message for Disney boss Bob Iger:You owe me. They have not had the same special privileges as you have," DeSantis said he would tell Iger. DeSantis Set Up to Lose in a Disney Lawsuit, Former Trump - Newsweek It is my hope the actions we take will be better for everyone, Disney included.. PIRATES LAWSUIT Artist vs Disney Company-. Itd be like asking the Las Vegas Strip to pack up and move elsewhere. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP). In April, the DeSantis board voted to nullify those contracts, prompting Disney to sue in federal court. Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Files Motion for Summary Judgement Against Disney It's the latest in a lawsuit in which the Florida board says Disney shouldn't have total power over its district. I think it's going to be the right business decision, and all that," he said. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. DeSantis on Disney: 'We've basically moved on' - POLITICO DeSantis was referencing Walt Disney World's special tax district, which has become a key battleground in the governor's long-running feud with one of his state's top employers. Mickey Mouse watches the sun set at Walt Disney World and wonders about the fate of his kingdom as battle with Ron DeSantis draws nigh. Cars line-up to enter Walt Disney World on February 08, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. DeSantis Culture War With Disney (DIS) Sees Lawsuit by Florida Trio DeSantis and the other defendants in the lawsuit have asked for the case to be dismissed. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. o take over Reedy Creek filed a countersuit in state court. Judge dismisses taxpayer lawsuit over Disney World district - Los Disney swipes back at Florida district as DeSantis says he's moved on Ron DeSantis handpicked the new board in an ongoing dispute with Disney Co. over who controls the special taxing district that manages the municipal infrastructure at Walt Disney World. Plenty of people would say its an unfair advantage, but other people would say look, it worked extremely well. Ron DeSantis sat down with CNBC and raised a few eyebrows with new rhetoric about his fight with Disney. An email seeking comment was sent Monday morning to Disney officials. If they think that they can go back and say, yeah, the whole takeover is illegal, and put Disneys people back in on the board [removing DeSantiss appointments], I think thats the most likely outcome. It was not always universally recognized that corporations had First Amendment rights that paralleled those of individual people. NOW WATCH: DeSantis vs. Disney: Who are the winners and losers? A federal judge overseeing the First Amendment lawsuit that Walt Disney Parks filed against Gov. Andersen Jones: This case is an assertion of freedom of corporate speech. The suit dramatically . FILE - A statue of Walt Disney and Micky Mouse stands in front of the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Jan. 9, 2019. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis oversight board of Disney World has voted to claw back authority over the companys theme park properties. Joe Raedle/Getty Images It's the latest in a lawsuit in which the Florida board says Disney shouldn't have total power. Disney alleged in the Friday filing that theFlorida board overseeing the transitionviolated its contract but added that since they have "no adequate legal remedy for the District's breach of the Contracts, as an award of damages would not fully compensate Disney for the losses caused by the District's breach of the Contracts.". >>>. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Heritage Foundation 50th Anniversary Celebration leadership summit, Friday, April 21, 2023, in Oxon Hill, Md. Disney suing me? But before the new board came in, the company pushed though 11th-hour agreements that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority. DeSantis was once the front-runner after the ex-presidents slate of candidates cost the GOP key races in the November midterm elections. Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019. He's also discussed using some of the land for additional development and even a new prison. Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP, 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The governor, whose political style features a heavy emphasis on fighting "woke" social issues, has accused Disney of sexualizing children. "The District has a duty under the terms of the Contracts to do such further acts and assurances as shall be reasonably requested by Disney to carry out the intent of the Contracts and give effect thereto and the District has refused to perform its obligations under the Contracts and has instead breached the Contracts by, among other things, declaring them void ab initio," the filing reads. Florida vs. Disney Lawsuit: Claims Filed as Gov. Signals White Flag DeSantis on Thursday named Tampa attorney Charbel Barakat to the oversight board to replace Michael Sasso, who resigned last month around the same time the governor appointed Sasso's wife, Meredith, to the Florida Supreme Court. No other company in Florida that I know has a local government board selected by the governor where the board and governor have threatened the company and set up a system where they have leverage to damage that company. Meet the lead lawyers handling Disney's lawsuit against Florida Gov In its lawsuit, Disney says, "This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional." Board member Ron Peri described being mocked in the media and getting hate mail. Maybe you should let Universal Studios do this as well. According to its fiscal 2020 and 2021 accounts, Disneys otherwise lucrative parks division alone incurred roughly $8.5 billion in combined losses over the two years. The law, the "Parental Rights in Education Act," is called "Don't Say Gay" by critics. Not political appointees in control of the district. Lawmakers also retroactively invalidated agreements that Disney reached with the prior board of what was then the Reedy Creek Improvement District on the eve of it being brought under DeSantis's control. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. When Disney came to Florida in the 1960s enormous amounts of money were going to have to be spent to develop the land. Ron DeSantis has re-upped his call for Disney to drop its lawsuit against him and other Florida officials, warning the entertainment giant it is "going to lose." The Sunshine State scored eighth overall in CNBC's ranking of America's Top States for Business in 2023. DeSantis urges Bob Iger to drop Disney lawsuit, accept end of - CNBC As the Republican put it, he and his administration have basically moved on from the dispute with the corporate giant. The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. REUTERS/Octavio Jones, US appeals judge faults probe of Federal Circuit's Pauline Newman, Law firm Clifford Chance posts increased revenue, stalled profits, Shearman real estate finance partner is latest exit as merger looms, Corporate attorneys dont want to pay law firms for ChatGPT whenthey could use it themselves, Wells Fargo defeats shareholder lawsuit over fake job interviews, Cargill chartered ship sets sail to test wind power at sea, Tesla says two ex-employees behind May data breach, Exclusive: Walmart, Centric probe suppliers for potential links to Cambodia women's prison. Disney filed its lawsuit in April against the governor in federal court, claiming DeSantis "weaponized" state government against the company for attacking the classroom gender discussion law. In its 77-page lawsuit in Florida federal court, Disney laid out its side of a story whose beats may be familiar by now . The creation of the self-governing district by the Florida Legislature was instrumental in Disneys decision in the 1960s to build near Orlando. A federal judge threw out a lawsuit by three Florida residents who claim Governor Ron DeSantis trampled on Walt Disney Co. 's freedom of speech, finding numerous holes in their filing and ruling . Walt Disney Parks lawsuit Ron DeSantis Central Florida Tourism They broke down the winnability of Disneys lawsuit against the Florida governor, piece by piece, starting at the beginning. This doctrine came about primarily as a result of a concerted conservative push for it, and it was conservative justices who expanded the ability of corporations to argue that they enjoy freedom of speech. Stay up to date with what you want to know. If those deals were voided, the district has said it would nearly wipe out Disney's federal case against DeSantis. My kids have enjoyed it. All Rights Reserved. Disney said in the document that it "has fully complied with any and all of its obligations under the Contracts." Jewett: In between attacking Disney for speaking out against the Dont Say Gay bill, DeSantis has also occasionally said that it is about leveling the playing field and treating Disney equally. Its also maintained high standards. Disney is also suing DeSantis in federal court, accusing him of illegally voiding an agreement that purported to transfer certain powers of its now-dissolved special district back to the company. So an unfair advantage it may be, [but] maybe you should give it to other companies. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Disneys Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World in Florida, where Nixon gave his Im Not a Crook speech. Disney's Lawsuit Against Gov. DeSantis Has Teeth: Law Experts Cloud, Orlando company accused of fraudulent $108 million MLM scheme, Publix: Services animals allowed; pets, including emotional support animals, not, BA.2.86: What you need to know about the 'highly-mutated strain' of a COVID-19 variant, Lucy Letby sentenced: Former neonatal nurse sentenced to life in prison for murdering 7 babies. Florida Gov. But before the law took effect, Disney signed a deal with its outgoing board allowing it to retain development rights on the 40-square mile district. All Rights Reserved. As last week got underway, Florida Gov. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District sued, alleging the old board didnt give proper notice to contest the agreement. A Division of NBCUniversal. Andersen Jones: First Amendment doctrine makes clear that it is unconstitutional when government retaliates for speech or expressive positions. Ron DeSantis told CNBC that Disney CEO Bob Iger should drop his company's political retaliation lawsuit. It affecting everyone around him. Florida Gov. They were locked shut in California, he toldCNBCin commentsaired on Monday. Before voting to strike down Disney's development deal, the new district board heard from a number of independent business owners who have restaurants and retail shops at Disney properties. I cover census, demographics, Florida and related topics. Then you get something more like equality because its local control as opposed to political-appointee control. At a meeting Wednesday near Orlando, DeSantis' handpicked board voted to invalidate that agreement. Facing pressure from within his company, Disney's then-CEO Bob Chapek came out against the legislation, which limited classroom discussion of gender and sexual orientation and has been dubbed "Don't Say Gay" by critics. Now DeSantis, who has recently come under fire among free-market Republican donors for his fatal error targeting corporations, wants bygones to be bygones and appealed to Iger to drop the case citing their strong relations in the past. Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. Disney asked the federal court to prevent the state from enforcing the laws directed at the company and to reinstate the development agreements favorable to Disney that were struck with the prior district's board.

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