WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS US INC v. DESANTIS et al

  1. January 31, 2024

    Disney Loses Free Speech Suit Against DeSantis

    A Florida federal judge Wednesday rejected claims from Disney that Gov. Ron DeSantis stepped on its free speech rights by replacing a local oversight board with company critics in retaliation for Disney's opposition to the governor's "Don't Say Gay" law that restricts teaching about gender and sexual orientation in public schools.

  2. January 11, 2024

    Disney Says 11th Circ. Decision Strengthens Free Speech Suit

    Disney's hospitality arm used the Eleventh Circuit's recent ruling in a Florida state attorney's case against Gov. Ron DeSantis to strengthen its own First Amendment case against him.

  3. October 30, 2023

    Disney Fights DeSantis' Dismissal Bid In Free Speech Suit

    Disney's hospitality arm urged a Florida federal court Monday to not drop its lawsuit against the state and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleging the governor and his allies are engaging in an ongoing constitutional mutiny that openly rejects the First Amendment.

  4. September 01, 2023

    Disney Trims Fed. DeSantis Suit To Free Speech Claim Alone

    Disney said Friday it is narrowing its claims in Florida federal court to argue solely that Gov. Ron DeSantis violated its First Amendment rights by replacing an oversight board with hand-picked critics in a "retaliatory weaponization of government."

  5. August 03, 2023

    Ex-Officials, Business Group Take Disney's Side In Fla. Suit

    A national group of business leaders and a bipartisan group of former government officials led by two former governors have lined up on the side of The Walt Disney Co. in its lawsuit claiming Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other officials illegally punished it for speaking out against a controversial state law.

  6. August 01, 2023

    DEI Programs Abolished At Former Disney Tax District In Fla.

    A central Florida property district once controlled by Walt Disney Co. that oversees more than 20,000 acres of land has abolished its diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives following an investigation that found such programs discriminated against people and wasted taxpayer dollars, an administrator announced on Tuesday.

  7. July 28, 2023

    First Amendment Group Backs Disney Claims Against Florida

    A media rights nonprofit on Friday threw its support behind The Walt Disney Co.'s federal lawsuit claiming Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other officials violated its First Amendment rights when they wrested control of a self-governing special district overseeing the company's extensive property near Orlando.

  8. July 27, 2023

    Disney Says DeSantis Can't Avoid Constitutional Claims

    The Walt Disney Co. pointed to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' past bravado in their ongoing feud, as the company urged a federal judge this week to reject state officials' bid to toss its lawsuit over the recent reorganization of a self-governing special district covering Disney's extensive central Florida land holdings.

  9. June 26, 2023

    Disney Can't Sue DeSantis For Signing New Law, Florida Says

    Florida asked a federal judge Monday to toss The Walt Disney Co.'s lawsuit challenging state officials' reorganizing of its self-governing district, arguing that Gov. Ron DeSantis and other officials are immune from litigation, and that Disney lacks standing and failed to state a claim.

  10. June 01, 2023

    Fla. Judge Rejects DQ Bid In Disney Fight, Still Steps Aside

    Northern District of Florida Chief Judge Mark E. Walker on Thursday denied Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' attempt to disqualify him from overseeing The Walt Disney Co.'s suit challenging the Sunshine State's takeover of Disney's self-governing district, although the federal judge opted to recuse himself for other reasons.