Disney v. Ron DeSantis: United States District Judge imposes first deadlines in high-stakes lawsuit

Jun 02, 2023 in "Reedy Creek Improvement District"

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Posted: Friday June 2, 2023 1:!2pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Judge Allen C Winsor, who has been presiding over the case for just one day after replacing Judge Mark Walker, has set initial deadlines for Disney's lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The deadlines relate to DeSantis filing motions to dismiss Disney's case and the subsequent responses by Disney. The timeline for this phase of the case is through to at least early August 2023.

Here are the deadlines filed today by Judge Winsor.

DeSantis' deadline to file motions to dismiss is 6/26/2023.
Rule 26 Meeting Report due by 6/27/2023.
Disney's deadline to respond to any motions to dismiss is 7/26/2023.
DeSantis may reply no later than 8/9/2023.

Original Judge Mark Walker, disqualified himself from the case yesterday due to a family member owning a small amount of stock in The Walt Disney Company. The case has now been assigned to 46 year old Orlando-born Republican Judge Allen C Winsor, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019.

Disney is suing DeSantis for what it says has been "a targeted campaign of government retaliation-orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney's protected speech-now threatens Disney's business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights."

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Stripes15 hours ago

Yeah, just go to Civil Case Records search and look up “Walt Disney Parks and Resorts” under Business Name. The case is on the second or third page of cases.

Isamar15 hours ago

The response IMO just oozes belligerent big-money lawyers who are used to bullying less powerful litigants into submission, which obviously isn’t going to happen here. Unfortunately, some of the arrogance may come from knowing that Desantis has appointed so many of Florida’s judges, especially appellate judges. (And of course the board members and their lawyers are very well-connected.) Some of the Disney requests they cited are interesting - I’ll grab some screenshots when I have some time later. BTW, someone has probably already posted this but for anyone catching up: the case docket, with the publicly-filed documents, is on the Orange County Clerk’s website. I’ll try to post a link to the docket but it will probably only take you to their search page, because they have a particularly annoying recaptcha. Link to the docket? (but probably the search page): https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/CaseDetails?cItem=%2BTbi6Kj%2Fty6YyUOm0jEsQCqeu5lZ0egRFMYwvhvvViJ8Lda3Wr4WdfknS6j2HsywFMyZrubfXdWKnu%2BoB5R9oR%2FZ0YOeSml0eChyoBHnnhw%3D

mikejs7815 hours ago

It's been reported that the price was the same that is offered to all third party businesses operating within WDW. So for example, Sheraton had access to the same deal.

JoeCamel16 hours ago

You throw up a lot of flack to get your target through. Let's see if Disney gets what they really want when this all shakes out. Like charging multiple crimes in a criminal case you expect some to get tossed

GrumpyFan17 hours ago

For political appointees doing the governor's dirty work, they sure do think awfully highly of their positions. Do they really think that because the governor appointed them as his minions to rule over Disney that they are above the law? This just gets funnier with each salvo. Also, sounds like they've got something to hide and makes me really curious what will be exposed! LOL

Stripes17 hours ago

https://blogmickey.com/2023/10/desantis-tourism-oversight-district-calls-disney-subpoenas-a-fishing-expedition-tantamount-to-harassment/

monothingie17 hours ago

I would assume so. I would also assume that the price RCID paid was not unique to RCID and was inline with similar offerings sold to other entities.

lazyboy97o17 hours ago

It is publicly available to all operating participants.

monothingie17 hours ago

Which should have been at publicly available pricing.

peter1143517 hours ago

That would open up some legal issues. Public employees accepting gifts….

yensid196717 hours ago

OK that makes sense! BUT you would think Disney would still offer it to them since they were grandfathered in and skip the district! Firefighters get an Annual Pass for keeping Disney World a safe place free of fire! but I guess the district would have a problem with that too!?

lazyboy97o17 hours ago

It’s a benefit sold by Disney that the District and other operating participants purchase.

yensid196717 hours ago

OK, I think I know where I misspoke...I was asking how the CFOD can take away Firefighters Annual Pass benefits. I understand that the firefighters work for the District, but how can the district take away a benefit that is offered by Disney? I might be missing something, but its OK...I'm old! LOL