Disney Updates Lawsuit Against Ron DeSantis

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

The Walt Disney Company has shown they’re not backing down in their recent lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In fact, today, they filed an amended lawsuit after the state legislature moved to void the previously instated 30-year theme park development agreement created by the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

The battle continues to escalate between Governor DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company, with no signs of either side relinquishing. Recently, in an interview with Newsmax, DeSantis proclaimed victory against the company. “At the end of the day they just have to understand — the party is over for them,” He said about Disney, regarding what he refers to as “the will of the people” in the state of Florida.

Of course, this is all in response to Disney speaking out against DeSantis’ controversial Parental Rights in Education Act, which forbids teachers from discussing LGBTQ+ topics with their students in Florida schools. The state legislature also recently passed a bill that would allow the state to take custody of children who are “at risk” of receiving gender-affirming care, even those who do not reside in the state of Florida.

Disney has made their commitment to inclusivity and protection of their Cast Members clear, which launched a retaliation campaign against them by the Governor’s office, including the dissolving of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, Disney’s self-governing district. The back-and-forth about the district between Disney and DeSantis has a long and complicated timeline, which you can read more about here.

Reedy Creek Disney Lawsuit

The skirmish culminated with Disney suing Ron DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board members for violation of the First Amendment, alleging that the Governor’s actions were clear and obvious targeting of the company for exercising free speech.

Today, Disney amended that complaint with more direct quotes from DeSantis that point towards this retaliation. Disney’s amended complaint — read it here — opens with a DeSantis quote from last week, in which he said, “[T]his all started, of course, with our parents’ rights bill.” They also stated:

“The State’s actions over the last two weeks are the latest strikes… At the Governor’s bidding, the State’s oversight board has purported to ‘void’ publicly noticed and duly agreed development contracts, which had laid the foundation for billions of Disney’s investment dollars and thousands of jobs. Days later, the State Legislature enacted, and Governor DeSantis signed legislation rendering these contracts immediately void and unenforceable. These government actions were patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional.”

“The Governor and his allies have made clear they do not care and will not stop. The Governor recently declared that his team would not only “void the development agreement”—just as the State has now done, twice—but also planned “to look at things like taxes on the hotels,” “tolls on the roads,” “developing some of the property that the district owns” with “more amusement parks,” and even putting a “state prison” next to Walt Disney World. “Who knows? I just think the possibilities are endless,” he said.”

The board has moved to countersue Disney, but public opinion seems to be largely in Disney’s favor. Disney is the single largest taxpayer in the state of Florida and also the biggest employer in Central Florida.

This amendment comes mere days before the company’s next earnings call, which is scheduled for May 10.

Disney Sues DeSantis Over Free Speech Violations

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis has been at war with Disney since mid-2022. In that time, he has learned a valuable life lesson: If you’re going to come for the Mouse, you’d better come correct because Disney doesn’t play around. They are relentless too. You won’t find Disney backing down from a fight. DeSantis has been met with significant criticism for his role in the ongoing feud.

In a shocking turn of events today, Disney has said, “I’ll see your empty threat and raise you a real one.” We are just discovering that Disney has, in fact, filed a lawsuit against Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis. The suit comes as the final straw in the ongoing battle over the Reedy Creek Improvement District and governmental overreach in regard to constitutionally protected free speech.

This battle began when DeSantis signed his Parental Rights in Education Act, which seeks to ban educators from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with students younger than 3rd grade. After initially being silent on the matter, Disney spoke out against it. That should have been the end of it, but DeSantis chose to threaten and punish Disney over their stance. He took away their Reedy Creek Improvement District, targeted Disney over trivial matters, and canceled future projects. He also threatened to build a prison next door in a very public meltdown. It’s clear today that Disney was simply placating the Governor up to this point but has finally had enough.

A review of the complaint shows several grievances, but perhaps the most poignant comes at the very end: “Disney also knows that it is fortunate to be able to take a stand against the state’s retaliation – a stand smaller businesses and individuals might not be able to take when the State comes after them for expressing their own view.”

The complaint also seeks to prove that DeSantis violated due process, was in breach of contract, and has filed two first amendment violation grievances. The complaint stated that Disney never wanted a fight with DeSantis and tried to open dialog in order to de-escalate the fight several times and was met with derision. They also expressed regret for how things have turned out, saying, “Disney regrets that it has come to this. But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its Cast Members, Guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials.”

The suit has been filed in Federal courts. No hearing date has been set yet, but when that happens, you can be sure Disney Dining will bring you up to date information. Grab your popcorn, folks. This is about to get good.

Fired Exec Threatens “Serious Legal Consequences” For Disney

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Amid massive layoffs and restructuring, Disney is cleaning house. Heads have been rolling at the Walt Disney Company since November with the sudden (and not entirely unwelcome) firing of former CEO Bob Chapek. No one knows who will be next on the chopping block as Disney looks to trim the fat.

One recently ousted exec, former President of Physical and Post Production, Visual Effects, and Animation of Marcel Studios Victoria Alonso, isn’t going to take her firing lightly. In fact, she’s got a lot to say about it and intends to say it in court. The Oscar-nominated producer has lawyered up and, according to Deadline, has retained the services of Patty Glaser. Law Dragon refers to Glaser as “Quite simply the go-to litigator in Los Angeles for business litigation and other high-profile cases.”

Disney exec law suit

Glaser, a senior partner at Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP, has experience tangling with Disney and is currently suing the House of Mouse over the firing of Karyn McCarthy from Star Wars TV series The Acolyte.

Disney exec lawsuit

Alonso and her attorney claim she was fired due to her Amazon Studios produced film Argentina, 1985, stating that Disney viewed her work for competing 🎙 as a breach of contract despite giving their blessing to pursue the project. This isn’t the first time the Marvel executive has been under the microscope with the higher-ups at Disney- she was one of the vices that led the charge against Bob Chapek’s handling of the so-called “Don’t Say Gay Bill.” Glaser released a public statement on Alonso’s behalf saying,

“The idea that Victoria was fired over a handful of press interviews relating to a personal passion project about human rights and democracy that was nominated for an Oscar and which she got Disney’s blessing to work on is absolutely ridiculous. Victoria, a gay Latina who had the courage to criticize Disney, was silenced. Then she was terminated when she refused to do something she believed was reprehensible. Disney and Marvel made a really poor decision that will have serious consequences. There is a lot more to this story and Victoria will be telling it shortly—in one forum or another.”

It is unclear at this time what the lawyer claims was so reprehensible to Alonso. It is assumed that detail will be revealed during litigation. Alonso has claimed Disney and Marvel have tried to silence her in the past, even going so far as to forbid her from speaking to the press.

Disney has fired back with a statement of their own, following Alonso’s exit, saying, “It’s unfortunate that Victoria is sharing a narrative that leaves out several key factors concerning her departure, including an indisputable breach of contract and a direct violation of company policy. We will continue to wish her the best for the future and thank her for her numerous contributions to the studio.”

This ongoing battle seems to be only just heating up. Stay tuned right here as we bring you the latest in what is likely to be a salacious fight between the former executive and the Power House studio.

Disney Responds to Lawsuit Filed Over Fatal Fall at Disney World Resort Hotel

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

In December 2020, Disney travel agent, Jessica Straub, took a Christmas trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth. She was ready to see the decorations, indulge in delicious food, and have a truly great time. Sadly, while on her trip, Jessica was at Walt Disney World’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and she slipped and fell. She hit her head on the ground, which ended up being a fatal injury. According to the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office, Jessica died due to blunt force trauma suffered from the fall.

More than a year later, in June 2021, it was reported that a lawsuit had been filed against Disney by Jessica’s cousin, Justin Morrison. The lawsuit — which was filed by the large firm Morgan & Morgan — claims that Walt Disney World Resort was negligent and accused Caribbean Beach of having unsafe conditions.

While Disney has not commented publicly on the lawsuit, the company has responded to the lawsuit itself, by filing a response and asking for a dismissal. In the dismissal request — which was obtained by Florida Politics — Disney claimed that the lawsuit was missing several facts and called it “vague and scattershot”. Disney also said that the lawsuit was unclear as to what exactly happened to Ms. Straub, and said that there was no proof listed to point to the fall being a result of Disney’s negligence.

In its dismissal request, Disney said the following:

“Even after a thorough consideration of all six pages of the Complaint, the reader is left wondering what allegedly happened to Ms. Straub and how it was supposedly Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ fault,” Disney said in court documents filed July 19….

Noticeably absent are: any description or allegation explaining what or whom allegedly inflicted the ‘bodily injury’ on Ms. Straub; what the specific nature of the ‘bodily injury’ was; where in the roughly 200 acres that comprise Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ Caribbean Beach Resort the injury allegedly occurred; or when in the four-day time-period referenced in the Complaint Ms. Straub’s injury occurred,” Disney said in the motion. “The lack of such details makes it … impossible for (Disney) to decipher how Plaintiff claims it is liable and mandates the dismissal of the Complaint.”

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In addition to claiming that there was not enough information given to place the blame on Disney, the company also questioned the validity of Morrison being able to file the claim at all. Disney asked for Morrison and his attorney’s to present proof that Morrison is the representative of Ms. Straub’s estate — which is the only way he would legally be able to file the suit.

Disney files suit against VISA and MasterCard in defense of its theme park Guests, customers

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Late Friday evening, Disney filed suit against Visa and Mastercard over the credit cards’ interchange fees, and part of Disney’s stance is that the card companies have engaged in practices that result in higher costs for customers and loyal patrons.

The new suit is an offshoot of a lawsuit originally filed in court in 2005. The suit related to the interchange fees charged by credit card companies for every transaction made by a customer and then paid to the issuing bank. But many companies like Disney that rely on credit card purchases for much of their revenue say that the credit card companies have a hold on the market which gives them an unfair advantage resulting in the companies’ ability to price-fix those interchange fees.

Disney points out that this practice ultimately results in higher prices for its Guests and customers.

The current litigation also has its roots in a nearly $6 billion settlement reached in 2012. In that settlement, an agreement was made by Visa and MasterCard to lower the amount the companies charge for processing credit card transactions. The lower costs were to remain in effect for 8 months, per this agreement.

But some lawmakers say that those concessions weren’t good enough.

Some large retailers like Walmart and Amazon excused themselves from the settlement with the hope that they could set out on their own to get better terms. Amazon was able to do exactly that earlier this year.

As such, Disney could be attempting to get a better deal as well.

Disney’s stance is that both Visa and MasterCard used “corporate maneuvering” to “shroud their hold on the industry,” per The New York Times. When the credit card companies were privately owned, thousands of banks and financial institutions backed them–banks and financial institutions that received interchange fees.

Walt Disney World announces hotel guest early admission, updated operating hours

But when the credit card companies’ payment processors went public in 2006 and 2008, it gave the appearance to consumers and retailers that there was a separation between the card companies and the banks. But some analysts suggest that such an “appearance” was intentional as a means of avoiding regulatory allegations.

Yes, I'm a Disney Adult. Let me explain | TPR

“If it’s a single company, they hoped they would not be viewed as a cartel of banks,” Harry First, an NYU law professor, explained. “A single company can set its own price and do what it wants.”

In its suit against Visa and MasterCard, Disney alleges that the card companies’ way of doing things did not change when the corporate structure changed. According to The New York Times:

Disney says that the beneficial fees that Visa and Mastercard offered the banks remain and that the two companies dominate the industry, driving up costs. “The debit card market is dominated by Visa and Mastercard,” court documents read. “Combined, Visa and MasterCard comprised about 75 percent of all debit purchase volume in 2004 and comprise over 80 percent today.” Fees continue to be a focus of legislative action, as well.

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A spokesman for MasterCard says the company expects to settle outside of court.

“We do not anticipate litigating this and expect a resolution could be announced in the near term,” he said.