Disney sues Ron DeSantis in battle over control of Florida resort
Disney sued Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and presumed challenger for the Republican presidential nomination, on Wednesday, saying he had subjected it to “a targeted campaign of government retaliation”.
The entertainment giant wants a court to overturn state efforts to exert control over Walt Disney World in Orlando. The lawsuit was filed within minutes of a DeSantis-appointed oversight board voting to override agreements made in February that allowed the company to expand the theme park and maintain control over neighboring land.
Disney called the state government’s action “patently retaliatory, patently anti-business and patently unconstitutional”.
It added: “At the governor’s bidding, the state’s oversight board has purported to ‘void’ publicly noticed and duly agreed development contracts, which laid the foundation for billions of Disney’s investment dollars and thousands of jobs.
“The governor and his allies have made clear they do not care and will not stop.”
The lawsuit is a dramatic escalation of a year-long battle between DeSantis and one of the largest employers in his state.
Last year, DeSantis moved against self-governing powers long granted to Disney after it opposed his so-called “don’t say gay” laws, concerning the teaching of gender and LGBTQ+ issues in Florida schools.
In response, Disney, which historically appointed members to its oversight board, passed covenants keeping such powers out of the hands of the board appointed by DeSantis.
Right before the governor’s allies took over, the Disney board gave the company power over future development in the area, which takes up 27,000 acres, in perpetuity, dulling any powers the governor’s allies might seize.
DeSantis said he would fight back, joking with
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