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In a win for Ron DeSantis, a federal judge on Tuesday dismissed Disney’s (NYSE:DIS) lawsuit against the Florida governor and other state officials that alleged they retaliated against the media giant for its stance on a controversial law.
Judge Allen Winsor ruled that Disney (DIS) lacked legal standing to sue DeSantis or Meredith Ivey, secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services, on a claim that they violated the company’s free speech rights.
The judge acknowledged that DeSantis’ move to dissolve Disney’s (DIS) special district, through which it operated with autonomy, worked to its “significant detriment.”
Disney (DIS) had filed the lawsuit against DeSantis and other Florida officials last year for allegedly “weaponizing the power of government to punish private business” after the firm publicly criticized the Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
After DeSantis dissolved Disney’s (DIS) special district, a new special taxing district – the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District – was created, in which the firm operates its parks and resort.
Winsor dismissed Disney’s claims against board members of the new special district “on the merits for failure” to state a claim. “Disney has not alleged any specific injury from any board action. Its alleged injury is its operating under a board it cannot control.”
DeSantis’ press secretary Jeremy Redfern hailed the ruling, saying “the days of Disney (DIS) controlling its own government and being placed above the law are long gone.”
A Disney (DIS) spokesperson said it will “press forward” with its case. “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.”
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