Disney and a board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reached a court agreement this Wednesday in a lawsuit filed in a state court over the management of the land where the famous theme parks are located.
The deal reached between the entertainment giant and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), established in 2023 and whose board members were appointed by DeSantis, marks the end of one of the two legal battles Disney is facing in Florida against the administration of the former presidential candidate.
The agreement was approved today by the members of this board, a vote that concludes a nearly two-year legal battle that erupted after DeSantis took control of the district where the parks are located following criticism from a former executive of the corporation of the state law known as ‘Don’t Say Gay.’
The criticism of the 2022 law, which prohibits addressing issues of gender identity and sexual orientation in Florida schools, prompted DeSantis to replace the Reedy Creek Improvement District, under which Disney has operated its four theme parks with autonomy since it began operations in Florida in the 1960s.
Instead, the Republican governor created the CFTOD in 2023, which, however, was limited by a final agreement approved by the board of the now-defunct district regarding future designs and constructions at Walt Disney World. According to those appointed by the governor, this agreement neutralized their authority and was the focus of the state lawsuit.
Following the agreement reached in this jurisdiction, Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle said in a statement released to the media that the company was satisfied that an agreement had been reached on this legal front.
“This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the district’s new leadership and serves the interests of all parties by enabling continued significant investment and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and economic opportunities in the state,” Vahle said.
Today’s agreement does not affect the lawsuit filed by Disney in a federal court in Florida, in which the company alleged that DeSantis used his political power as a retaliatory weapon to punish it for exercising its right to free speech.
Federal district judge for the Northern District of Florida Allen Winsor ruled earlier this year that the lawsuit lacked merit and standing, after which Disney appealed the judicial decision. EFE
Image: Infobae
