Disney’s “Backroom Deal” for Florida Special District Control DOA, Ron DeSantis’ Select Council Claims in Countersuit

Disney’s seemingly successful efforts to counter Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ power grab to control Disney World territory are “not worth the paper they’re printed on,” according to a counter-filing filed Monday by the Florida Governor’s Replacement Committee has been submitted. .

“The district is entitled to a declaration that: (1) the development agreement is void, unenforceable and/or invalid; and (2) the restrictive covenants are void, unenforceable and/or invalid,” reads one Sunshine’s complaint court approved by DeSantis Central Florida Tourism Oversight District v. House of Mouse. “The District is also entitled to an injunction enjoining Disney from enforcing the development agreement and restrictive covenants,” the 188-page document states (only 35 pages are the actual lawsuit, the rest is evidence) ( read it here ). ).

The countersuit, which the five-member board of directors vowed after a vote earlier Monday, is aimed at Disney’s first lawsuit of 26. Disney officials could not be reached for comment on the countersuit, which they expected.

In an already furious battle that began last year with then-Disney’s awkward opposition, led by Bob Chapek, to Florida’s blatantly discriminatory “Don’t Say Gay” law, the company, now led by Bob Iger, would ‘ a difficult time. with the secret exaggeration of today’s performance when they finally commented:

Earlier this year, the Florida legislature took steps to restore popular sovereignty and established an independent council to govern the district. In an effort to block Florida’s elected officials, Disney secretly made a series of eleventh-hour deals with the soon-to-be-replaced puppet government. Disney hoped to tie the hands of the newly independent board and maintain Disney’s special status as its own government in the district for at least the next thirty years. These agreements sounded like a backroom deal – drawn up by Disney with the consent of an attorney representing both Disney and the District, subject to a hearing without notice, and enforced by a compliant Disney-controlled board that Disney knew he owned, wouldn’t dwell on it. for a long time the case. . But perhaps out of haste or arrogance, Disney’s dealings violate fundamental principles of Florida’s constitutional, statutory and common law. As a result, they are invalid and not even worth the paper they are printed on.

DeSantis sought some traction from MAGA supporters in his bid for the White House, repeatedly calling Disney a “woke” company.

The escalation of court cases was prompted by DeSantis’ vengeful desire to rid Disney of its longtime hold on the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the entity established in 1967 by Walt Disney himself to give the company self-governing character. roll over his sprawling estate in Florida, much of which became Disney World, which opened in 1971. The district oversees things like infrastructure, roads and development, and also has taxing powers and the ability to assume mortgage debt.

After months of back-and-forth and the formation of his own board, the newly elected governor began threatening Disney last month after it emerged that he had publicly criticized administrative steps the company had taken to gain control of the missed more than 50 years of acquisition. old company. old special neighborhood.

Mocked by former mentor and now rival Donald Trump for being baptized, a clearly incensed DeSantis announced three weeks ago that the Florida government was now considering charging his state’s largest private employer with more oversight of driver safety and rating of its properties and even introducing new tolls on the Mickey Mouse branded roads leading to nearby resorts and theme parks. With apparent disdain for the large number of tourists and money that Disney World brings to Florida, DeSantis has openly suggested that a state prison could be built near the theme parks.

It was this kind of talk and tone that Disney identified in its lawsuit late last month, when it referred to “a targeted government retaliation campaign — orchestrated at every step by Gov. DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech — that is now … Disney’s business threatens Disney’s economic future in the region and violates its constitutional rights.” Disney’s federal lawsuit added: “Because the statute retaliates against Disney for its own speech, Disney is entitled to a declaratory judgment that the statute is unconstitutional, and an injunction enjoining the defendants from enforcing it.”

With today’s counterclaim, everyone involved is about to embark on a whole new ride, as Disney will no doubt move quickly to bring the case to federal court.