DeSantis seeks to dismiss Disney's federal lawsuit, seeks legislative immunity 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Walt Disney Company that claims that the Republican presidential candidate engaged in a “targeted campaign of government retaliation.”

DeSantis filed a motion on Monday asking the court to “dismiss the amended complaint, or at minimum, dismiss all claims against the State Defendants.”

Last April, Disney sued DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) Board, citing a “targeted campaign of government retaliation—orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech.”

The move comes after Disney’s former CEO verbally opposed Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which limits the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms with students aged nine or younger.

The feud intensified when DeSantis ended Disney’s autonomy over the special tax district surrounding its Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando—a measure that had been implemented more than 50 years ago that allowed the company to self-govern its operations—and appointed a new board to oversee the district.

The Florida governor's motion called the special status granted to Disney in 1967 a "sweetheart deal." 

The Florida legislature voted to dissolve the board that oversaw the district and created the CFTOD in its place with DeSantis-appointed members. 

DeSantis’ attorneys claim that Disney “grabbed headlines by suing the governor” despite having no basis for the lawsuit.  

“Although Disney has grabbed headlines by suing the governor, Disney – like many litigants before it who have challenged Florida’s laws – has no basis for doing so,” the lawyers wrote.

Additionally, his attorneys claim that DeSantis and the secretary of Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity are entitled to “absolute legislative immunity,” which would protect him from actions taken while conducting “legitimate legislative activity.”

"Neither the Governor nor the Secretary enforces any of the laws at issue, so Disney lacks standing to sue them," DeSantis' lawyers wrote.