Disney stated in court documents on Monday that if Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis prevails in a federal lawsuit alleging the Republican leader violated the company’s free speech rights, it won’t be the last organization punished for endorsing a “disfavored viewpoint.”
In a contentious legal battle, Disney has filed a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming that its free speech rights were violated by the Republican leader.
Disney alleges that DeSantis unlawfully took over Walt Disney World’s governing district as retaliation for the company’s public opposition to a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades.
Read: Disney Leads Hollywood In Pro-LGBTQ Content Following Parental Rights Battle In Florida
Prior to DeSantis appointees assuming control, the district had been managed by Disney supporters for over five decades, overseeing various municipal services for Disney World’s extensive property.
Disney claims that the state’s takeover was a direct response to the company’s vocal opposition to a controversial state law, “Parental Rights In Education,” championed by DeSantis.
“If the line is not drawn here, there is no line at all,” Disney said Monday. “The retaliation against Disney for crossing the Governor’s ‘line’ was swift and severe: for the explicitly-stated purpose of punishing Disney for its comments, the State immediately stripped Disney of its voting rights in the governing body that oversees Disney’s use of its own private property.”
Disney also contends that this action was a clear violation of its First Amendment rights and sets a dangerous precedent for other entities expressing disfavored viewpoints.
In its court filings, Disney emphasizes the significance of drawing a line to protect free speech rights. The company asserts that if the line is not drawn in this case, there may be no line at all, leaving room for further infringements on free speech. Disney maintains that it is crucial to address and challenge the alleged violation of its rights in order to safeguard the First Amendment for all.
Governor DeSantis and the other defendants, including a state agency and DeSantis appointees on the board of the revamped district, argue that Disney’s First Amendment lawsuit is without merit.
They assert that the state enjoys immunity from liability and that the lawsuit fails to establish any legal basis for their alleged wrongdoing. DeSantis and his legal team are eager to defend their actions and refute Disney’s claims in court.
In addition to the federal lawsuit, Disney is also engaged in a separate legal battle with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in state court in Orlando. Prior to the change in control of the district, Disney supporters on the board had signed agreements with the company, granting Disney control over design and construction at Disney World while prohibiting the district from using Disney’s intellectual property without permission. The new DeSantis appointees contested these agreements, leading to a lawsuit in state court to have them declared void.
Disney has responded to the district’s lawsuit with counterclaims of its own. The company seeks to have the agreements it made with the Disney-supporting board members declared valid and enforceable.
By doing so, Disney hopes to secure its control over design and construction at Disney World and protect its intellectual property from unauthorized use by the district.
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