Disney modifies lawsuit to focus on First Amendment allegations.
Disney Narrows Lawsuit Against Gov. Ron DeSantis to Focus on Free Speech Allegations
Disney has made amendments to its lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, now specifically targeting alleged violations of its First Amendment rights. The entertainment company withdrew its initial four claims in a court filing on Thursday, narrowing the lawsuit down to the fifth claim. This legal battle between Disney and DeSantis began when Disney publicly criticized the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act in 2022.
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Last week, Disney stated in a court filing that it was withdrawing its first four claims from the federal lawsuit, as they are currently being litigated in a separate state court case. However, a federal judge informed the company that it would need to refile the motion to be considered. The initial four claims focused on alleged contract clause violations, takings clause violations, due process clause violations, and a First Amendment claim related to Senate Bill 1604. This law overturned controversial development agreements between Disney and former Reedy Creek Improvement District board members, which were replaced by DeSantis appointees.
“This federal case will therefore address only the current Fifth Cause of Action, not at issue in the state court case: Disney’s First Amendment challenge to the retaliatory reconstitution of the Reedy Creek Improvement District,” stated last week’s filing.
In April, Disney filed the lawsuit against DeSantis, acting Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary Meredith Ivey, and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. The company accused them of engaging in a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials.”
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The term “weaponization” refers to DeSantis’s efforts to restructure the Reedy Creek Improvement District to include more state oversight.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor dismissed two motions to dismiss filed by the defendants in Disney’s lawsuit. Instead, DeSantis, Ivey, and the board have until September 21 to respond to Disney’s amended complaint.
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