ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — An appeals court on Monday granted Disney’s request for a two-month stay in a federal lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his appointees in the governing district of Walt Disney World. Lee. A settlement was reached On separate litigation in state court.
Disney’s request to the federal appeals court last Friday was inspired by a settlement reached last month involving two Florida lawsuits between Disney and the DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. After DeSantis took over the theme park’s governing board, the company and the district began fighting in state court over how Disney World would be developed in the future.
As part of the settlement, Disney agreed to stay a separate federal lawsuit, which is being appealed, pending negotiations over a new development deal with DeSant’s appointees. The district provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among other things, and was controlled by Disney supporters for most of the five decades until DeSantis’ appointments last year. Not captured.
Disney had a deadline of next week to file an opening brief in its appeal to the federal Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, but that deadline has now been set for mid-June.
The settlement agreement ended nearly two years of litigation that began with Disney supporters taking over the DeSantis district after the so-called Florida company opposed it. Don’t say gay law.
The 2022 law banned classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary grades and was championed by the Republican governor, who punched Disney in speeches while running for president earlier this year. was used as Since then left of the race
As punishment for Disney’s opposition to the controversial law, DeSantis seized the governing district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors. Disney sued DeSantis and his speakers, claiming that speaking out against the legislation violated the company’s free speech rights. A federal judge The case was dismissed In January, but Disney appealed.
Before it was filled with DeSantis’ appointment early last year, the board — then made up of Disney supporters — agreed to give control of Disney World’s design and construction to Disney. New DeSantis Appointed claimed that “eleventh-hour deals” eliminated their powers. And the district filed a lawsuit against the company in state court in Orlando to void the contracts.
Disney filed counterclaims and asked a state court to declare the contracts valid and enforceable.
Under the settlement, development agreements and contracts giving Disney design and construction control would be voided, and the new board agreed to operate under a master plan that was in effect before DeSantis took over the district.
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Credit : apnews.com
