Reedy Creek board wants Disney’s claims thrown out

Agreements that Disney made with the governing district for Walt Disney World before it was taken over by appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis weren’t legally valid, so the company’s counterclaims against the district should be dismissed, the district said in court papers filed this week.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, now controlled by supporters of the Republican governor, argued in a filing Wednesday that a state court judge should dismiss Disney’s counterclaims.

The counterclaims seek a court declaration that the agreements are valid and that the district’s board of DeSantis allies violated the company’s contracts, free speech and due process rights.

The pact shifted control over design and construction at Disney World from the district to the company and prohibited the district from using the likeness of Disney characters or other intellectual property without Disney’s permission.

They were signed in February before the district takeover by the DeSantis appointees, who said the contracts neutered their powers for the district that provides municipal services for Disney World.

The takeover of what had been called the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was previously controlled by Disney, came after the company publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades.

The contracts weren’t properly publicized and the Disney supporters on the district’s board at the time didn’t have the legal authority to sign the agreements, the new district argued.

“Disney has failed to allege any facts that demonstrate the existence of damages,” said the district.

Disney and DeSantis and his allies also are battling in federal court, where the company has sued DeSantis, claiming the governor violated its free speech rights by punishing it for expressing opposition to the law.

DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District have asked a federal judge to throw out Disney’s First Amendment lawsuit, calling it meritless.