On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis filed a movement to dismiss Disney’s lawsuit towards him and different state officers on the grounds that Disney has no jurisdiction.
“Though Disney grabbed headlines by suing the Governor, Disney — like many litigants earlier than it who’ve challenged Florida’s legal guidelines — has no foundation for doing so,” the movement to dismiss states, per The AP.
The movement additionally argues that DeSantis has legislative immunity, which prevents legislators from being sued for any motion carried out within the “sphere of legit legislative exercise.”
Disney is suing DeSantis and different state officers over a invoice handed final yr that impacts the corporate’s particular tax settlement that provides Disney governmental management over the Reedy Creek Enchancment District (about 25,000 acres within the counties of Orange and Osceola the theme park in Orlando).
Disney has not publicly responded to the movement. Entrepreneur has reached out to Disney for remark.
How Did the Disney-DeSantis Fued Start?
The Disney and Ron DeSantis feud started in March 2022 when Disney publicly opposed Florida’s Parental Rights in Training Regulation (dubbed the “Do not Say Homosexual” invoice, by some). The CEO on the time, Bob Chapek, introduced that Disney would stop any political donations to the state in opposition to the invoice.
In April, the Florida legislature handed a invoice (seemingly in retaliation) that will dissolve Disney’s special-tax settlement that enables the company to have the authorized authority to self-govern the world in and across the park in Orlando.
Disney then filed a lawsuit towards DeSantis (the one he’s now asking to be dismissed) and different state officers as a result of the invoice was a “clear violation of Disney’s federal constitutional rights.”
A DeSantis-appointed board then filed a countersuit in state court docket simply days later.
“Since Disney sued us, we’ve got no alternative now however to reply,” board chair Martin Garcia stated on the time, per Reuters.
Earlier this yr, the invoice was signed into legislation, and Florida took management of Reedy Creek, now renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, with board members appointed by DeSantis.