Disney has filed a lawsuit claiming that the oversight government for Walt Disney World, which was taken over by appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year, has failed to release documents and properly preserve records in violation of Florida public records law.
Disney said in the lawsuit filed Friday that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, often referred to as CFTOD, has been so slow in fulfilling its public records duties that it has failed to respond completely to a request the company made seven months ago when it paid more than $2,400 to get emails and text messages belonging to the five district board members appointed by DeSantis.
Disney, DeSantis and DeSantis’ appointees are already fighting for the government in two lawsuits pending in federal and state courts.
The public records lawsuit is asking a judge to review any documents that the district claims are exempt from being released, declare that the district is violating state public records law and order the district to release the documents that Disney has requested.
“The CFTOD prevented Disney from discovering its government’s movements through public records requests, in violation of Florida law,” the lawsuit filed in Orlando state court states. “Court grants relief to Disney. “
An email sent to the Central Florida Tourism Watch District seeking comment.
The new legislative lawsuit claims the district is failing to comply with public records legislation in other ways, such as allowing DeSantis-appointed board members to use non-public email addresses and text messages for district business without a procedure to ensure they are preserved and failed. to do so. Make sure board members don’t delete messages about district matters.
The dispute between DeSantis and Disney began last year after the company publicly opposed the state’s so-called “Don’t Just Say Gay” law, which bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in the early grades of school. DeSantis, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. In retaliation, DeSantis and Republican lawmakers took back the district that Disney had controlled for more than five decades and installed five board members unwavering before the governor.
About 50 of the roughly 370 workers have left the Central Florida Tourism Watch District since it took over in February, raising fears that decades of institutional wisdom could disappear with them, as well as the reputation of a well-run government.