Another win for DeSantis.
https://nypost.com/2024/03/27/business/disney-desantis-allies-settle-lawsuit-over-special-district/Disney caves in high-stakes lawsuit against Ron DeSantis for control of district governing Orlando theme parks
Disney on Wednesday capitulated in its long-running legal battle against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — handing a victory to the Republican in the high-stakes fight over a $17 billion planned development at the company’s theme park near Orlando.
The Mouse House agreed to a settlement that gives up its self-governing powers over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was dissolved by DeSantis in 2022 after the company opposed his legislation. Disney had controlled the special tax district for decades.
As part of the deal, Bob Iger’s Disney also agreed to drop a lawsuit over access to public records and defer briefings in a federal lawsuit it filed against DeSantis as the two sides try to reach a consensus on a new development agreement for Walt Disney World, among other matters.
“This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district,” Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle said.
DeSantis took a victory lap after the stunning turn of events, saying his administration was “vindicated” by the settlement with one of Florida’s biggest employers following the two-year feud.
“A year ago people were trying to act like all these legal maneuvers were all going to succeed, and the reality is here we are a year later, not one of them has succeeded,” DeSantis told reporters in Orlando.
“Every action that we’ve taken has been upheld in full, and the state is better off for it.”
