The DeSantis-Appointed CFTOD Asks Judge To Dismiss Disney’s Countersuit
In the latest chapter in the ongoing Ron DeSantis vs. Disney saga, the DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) has asked a state judge to dismiss Disney’s counterclaim which asked the Florida judge to enforce the development agreements it made with the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.
While Disney and DeSantis are squaring off in federal court over the dissolution of Reedy Creek, Disney, and the CFTOD are locked in litigation over the last-minute binding agreements that Disney and Reedy Creek made in the waning days of that district’s existence.
The Disney-Reedy Creek Agreements
The binding agreements essentially gave Disney governing control over their Central Florida land in perpetuity. If the agreements are enforced, Disney will have the same privileges it had under Reedy Creek, and there will be little to nothing the CFTOD can do about it.
After learning about the Reedy Creek agreements, the CFTOD quickly ruled the contracts void, arguing that Disney and Reedy Creek did not follow proper procedures before codifying the agreements.
The Florida State Legislature subsequently passed a law that also nullified the agreements.
In their filing the special district board wrote “to start, a development agreement for Walt Disney World is most unusual because there have been development activities in the area for more than fifty-five years without any development agreement.”
Disney Argues The Agreements Are Valid
Disney meanwhile, has argued that the agreements are valid and thus should be enforced. They are countersuing the CFTOD, and asking the state judge to enforce the contracts and penalize the district for their obstruction.
“The [DeSantis-appointed] district’s retaliatory interference with the contracts, via the legislative declaration and its predicates, has chilled and continues to chill Disney’s protected speech,” the company’s legal team wrote.
The CFTOD Moves To Dismiss
In their latest motion, the CFTOD is asking that the countersuit be tossed, as the agreements are now “null and void under state law”.
As always, continue to check back in with MickeyBlog. We will continue to bring you updates on all the news in the ongoing battle between Ron DeSantis and The Walt Disney Company.