OAN’s James Meyers
2:44 PM – Wednesday, January 31, 2024
A judge dismissed a lawsuit by Disney filed against Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The ruling came down on Wednesday, as the lawsuit alleged the governor of the Sunshine State retaliated against Disney for speaking out against a state law that bars classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation.
The judge, Allen Winsor, ruled that Disney did not have a legal standing to sue DeSantis and the secretary of Florida’s Commerce Department on a claim of violating its First Amendment rights.
“The Legislature can determine the structure of Florida’s special improvement districts,” Winsor said. “Disney does not argue that the First Amendment (or anything else) would preclude the Legislature from enacting the challenged laws without a retaliatory motivation.”
The latest ruling is a setback for Disney as DeSantis and the company have been in an ongoing feud for the past couple years.
Additionally, in April, Disney sued the governor after a new governing board for the district voted to void land-use contracts signed by the company.
However, despite the ruling, a Disney spokesman vowed that the company would continue to fight the latest ruling.
“This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here,” the spokesman 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.”
DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said that the ruling was the “correct decision” and that the “Corporate Kingdom is over.”
“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,” Redfern said.
Furthermore, Winsor maintained that Disney failed to show how its alleged injury was traceable to DeSantis’ control.
“That injury would exist whether or not the governor controlled the board,” the judge said.
Windsor was a Donald Trump-appointed judge who had previously upheld the law that first initiated the feud between DeSantis and Disney.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts