Ron DeSantis Says Disney Should “Move On” Following Dismissal of Their Lawsuit
The Walt Disney Company suffered a major setback on Wednesday when Judge Allen Winsor dismissed the company’s First Amendment lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Disney has sued the governor and his ally over the dissolution of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. DeSantis, Disney argued, dissolved the Disney-controlled district in retaliation for the company speaking out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, which critics had dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”
DeSantis had his team have argued that the dissolution of Reedy Creek was about reform, not retaliation. Additionally, DeSantis argued that he was protected from suit by the 11th Amendment.
Judge Winsor Dismissed Disney’s Suit
In Wednesday’s ruling, Judge Winsor sided with DeSantis, determining that Disney’s suit against the governor lacked standing. Perhaps more importantly, however, Judge Winsor also ruled that Disney’s suit against the CFTOD lacked merit.
Ron DeSantis and Glen Gilzean. Photo: Central Florida Urban League
“In short, Disney lacks standing to sue the Governor or the Secretary, and its claims against the CFTOD Defendants fail on the merits because when a statute is facially constitutional, a plaintiff cannot bring a free-speech challenge by claiming that the lawmakers who passed it acted with a constitutionally impermissible purpose,” he wrote.
Photo: Florida Bar
In essence, Judge Winsor ruled that on face value, the dissolution of Reedy Creek was constitutional, and thus Disney cannot argue that the intent behind the law dissolving the special district was to infringe on their 1st Amendment Rights.
DeSantis Says Continuing the Legal Battle Would Be “A Mistake”
Following the decision, Disney vowed that their legal battle with DeSantis would “not end here.” Subsequently, the company filed paperwork indicating that they would appeal.
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
In his first statements since Disney’s lawsuit was dismissed, DeSantis stated that appealing the decision would be “a mistake.”
“They should move on,” DeSantis said at a Jacksonville press conference yesterday.
Despite continuing to antagonize Disney, DeSantis has previously called for an end to the public spat with Florida’s largest employer.
Credit: Disney
While the governor would like nothing better than to walk away from Disney’s suit as the winner, it doesn’t sound like the battle will end here.
