Walt Disney Co. has urged a Florida judge to dismiss a lawsuit that aims to crush the entertainment company's development plans in the Sunshine State.
Disney's move to dismiss the case was the latest shot in a protracted battle between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Mouse House over control of the 27,000-acre territory home to Walt Disney World.
DeSantis's hand-picked board submitted The case in Florida's 9th Judicial Circuit Court for Orange County. However, Disney fought back. DeSantis retaliated again, and the fight intensified.
Florida lawmakers are trying to pass laws targeting a single company, which can spell legal trouble for the DeSantis administration.
The War on Disney
Disney's motion claims that since Florida's legislature has declared the deals in question invalidated, the court is not required to decide.
Last month, the entertainment company filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and other state representatives, claiming that the governor and his allies had planned "a targeted campaign of government retaliation" against Disney in response to its vocal opposition to a Florida education law that forbids teaching about sexual orientation in Florida schools.
Last year, the business voiced its concerns about the new laws, which got the nickname "Don't Say Gay" laws.
In response, DeSantis mocked Disney as a "woke" company and attempted to deprive Disney of its right to self-govern in the Reedy Creek Improvement District. He also threatened tax hikes, road tolls, and everything in his power to crush Disney's business.
The district, established in 1967 by Florida lawmakers, allowed Disney to choose its own municipal government, issuing bonds and managing its utilities and emergency services. The initial deal was supposed to bring economic growth and tourism to an otherwise underdevelopment part of Florida.
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