Disney Loses First Amendment Fight With Ron DeSantis in Federal CourtV
A federal judge has dealt a major setback to
Disney in its fight with Florida Gov.
Ron DeSantis, throwing out the company’s First Amendment lawsuit.
Disney argued that the governor retaliated against the company for its protected speech when he dissolved a special tax district that governs the company’s Orlando theme parks.
But
in a ruling on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor granted the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, finding that Disney did not have standing to sue the governor and that Disney cannot challenge a facially constitutional action by claiming a retaliatory motive.
A spokesman for DeSantis, Jeremy Redfern,
issued a statement declaring that “the Corporate Kingdom is over.”
“The days of Disney controlling its own government and being placed above the law are long gone,” Redfern said. “The federal court’s decision made it clear that Governor DeSantis was correct: Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state, and they do not have a right to their own special government. In short — as long predicted, case dismissed.”
In its own statement, Disney indicated it will appeal the decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here,” a Disney spokesperson said. “If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with. We are determined to press forward with our case.”
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