Federal Appeals Court Grants Delay in Disney-DeSantis Suit
Following the news that The Walt Disney Company and the Ron DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) have reached a settlement in their battle over the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, a federal appeals court has granted Disney a two-month delay in its federal 1st Amendment lawsuit against DeSantis.
Photo: Maria Tamo/Getty Images
Disney had asked for the 60-day delay to “facilitate” further negotiations.
How We Got Here
DeSantis and Disney have been battling in both federal and state court over the Florida governor’s dissolution of Reedy Creek. The district would later be replaced by the governor-appointed CFTOD.
Disney sued DeSantis in federal court, arguing that the governor dissolved Reedy Creek in retaliation for Disney speaking out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill (which critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay”). Disney’s case would eventually be dismissed by Judge Allen Winsor.
Disney subsequently vowed to appeal.
Photo: Florida Bar
The CFTOD, meanwhile, was suing Disney in state court over last-minute binding agreements that the company made with Reedy Creek in the waning days of that district’s existence. Those agreements essentially gave Disney governing control over their Central Florida lands in perpetuity.
The Two Sides Settled in March
On March 27, however, Disney and the CFTOD reached a settlement agreement. The terms of the deal stipulated that Disney would agree that the Reedy Creek contracts were void in exchange for the CFOTD’s agreement that it would consult Disney while amending or changing the district’s 2020 development plan.
Photo: CFTOD
The agreement between Disney and the CFTOD also came at a time of change on the CFTOD board, whose new make-up is seen as less antagonistic towards Disney.
As part of the agreement, the settlement stipulated that Disney would “seek, and the district will not oppose, permission from the court to defer briefing,” pending negotiations on the new development agreement and other matters.
Photo: Fox News
Following the re-constitution of the CFTOD board and the settlement of the state lawsuit, Disney and DeSantis both look primed to move past their differences and work together going forward.
The End of the Story?
In a recent interview with CNBC, Iger called the settlement a win for both sides.
“This is a good thing for the state of Florida and a good thing for The Walt Disney Company,” he said.
NBC News
If the two sides continue to get along, Disney will likely drop their lawsuit, thus ending one of the most tumultuous times in the company’s history.
There is, however, the chance that DeSantis won’t play ball. When asked if he foresaw future problems, Iger was not non-commital.
Photo: Maria Tamo/Getty Images
“I would hope not, but I can’t speak for Governor DeSantis,” Iger said.
Hopefully, with their political battle between them over, both sides will work together to create a better Florida.
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