Disney files new lawsuit against DeSantis' Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

Dec 23, 2023 in "Reedy Creek Improvement District"

Posted: Saturday December 23, 2023 9:13pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has made a late-afternoon filing to the Orange County circuit court judge to declare that the Ron DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is unlawfully withholding public records and order the agency to provide Disney with all outstanding requested records immediately.

According to the lawsuit, on May 11, 2023, Disney submitted a public records request to CFTOD seeking specific documents. The district acknowledged the request and received payment but delayed producing the records for nearly four months without explanation. Disney issued a legal notice on August 29, 2023, after which the district partially complied, citing technological difficulties and incomplete disclosure. Following three more weeks of inaction, Disney expressed concerns in a letter dated September 21, 2023, about the district's delays, vague technological issues, improper claim of attorney-client privilege, and records retention practices.

Disney points to a delay "so extreme that CFTOD still has yet to fully respond to a public records request Disney submitted seven months ago, in May of this year."

Here is an excerpt from the lawsuit detailing Disney's complaint against CFTOD:

CFTOD has failed and is failing to comply with its Public Records obligations in numerous ways, including:

a. Allowing employees and Board Members to use personal devices, personal email addresses, text messages, and messaging applications for District business, without adequate processes to ensure any public records contained therein are preserved or produced;

b. Failing to ensure that Board Members do not use auto-delete features on personal accounts used for District business;

c. Relying on Board Members or individual employees—including District Administrator Glenton Gilzean—to self-select text messages or emails responsive to public records requests on their own, without technical instruction from the district or any effort to verify compliance;

d. Relying exclusively on outside litigation counsel to collect Board Chairman Martin Garcia's public records contained in his personal email account, without any process to verify compliance; and

e. Failing to preserve data from personal devices of departing employees.

Disney points to the departure of 50 district employees and the resulting impacts on its ability to deliver services. The lawsuit also references a testimony taken in pending litigation brought against Disney by CFTOD, the new Board was recently described by CFTOD's public records administrator as "very, very, very politically-motivated."

This is Disney's second lawsuit against the Ron DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. Disney's federal April 26, 2023 lawsuit was filed in response to Governor DeSantis' attempts to replace the Reedy Creek Improvement District with his own hand-picked board. Disney's lawsuit says that DeSantis' actions violated its First Amendment and other constitutional rights, alleging they were motivated by retaliation due to the company's opposition to the so-called "don't say gay" law related to parental rights in schools.

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Sirwalterraleigh54 minutes ago

Arlen spectre syndrome…there is no known cure

JohnD1 hour ago

What political affiliation is he today? Anyone know? I can't keep up.

Sirwalterraleigh1 hour ago

If you believe recycling the same handful of people through positions with money influence is “healthy”… …what’s Charlie crist up to? 🤔

MisterPenguin1 hour ago

"I, as governor, will not be appointing myself as senator." "I, popular movie star, will not be in the next MCU movie."

JohnD1 hour ago

I don't see it happening. He already made clear his finishing out his term as Governor. Besides, he's an executive. I don't think Senate is his style, although he served in the House a few terms. If he lobbies for anything it would be AG. He's well suited for that as a former JAG officer. If not, he ran for President a few months in 2023-2024 to bolster his credentials. He leaves office in January 2027 as one of the best known Governors in the nation, ready to run in 2028 for President. Disney is no longer an issue for him. He's serving out his term.

Sirwalterraleigh1 hour ago

Well I highly doubt he’s gonna go take DWI cases in dade county Government seems to be rather addictive

jpeden1 hour ago

Based on the statement that I posted earlier I’d be very surprised if he did that. That type of statement doesn’t come out by accident or without him knowing about it.

JoeCamel1 hour ago

cough *scott* cough

ToTBellHop1 hour ago

He’s a term-limited governor who still sees a future POTUS in the mirror every morning. If he wants to be relevant enough to stage another campaign in 2028, he will want to be in Washington. And, if he never becomes POTUS, his “consolation” prize could be a 40-year career in the US senate since he’s still in his 40s. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t pick himself. Politicians want long-term jobs. That’s why so many former Governors become Senators.

Tom P.1 hour ago

How so? This is the constitutional and legal process for replacing sitting Senators. It has happened many, many times before. How is that a circus?

Stripes2 hours ago

To be clear, Disney is very happy with the current district board and particularly the new district administrator. They could not be more effusive in their praise for Kopelousos.

JohnD3 hours ago

I'm just saying she is more likely than himself. Not that he would appoint her. If he appointed someone already in office, then provisions would have to be made to fill that vacant position. She was only "elected" as a running mate. So easier to appoint her and appoint someone else to be Lt. Gov.

LAKid533 hours ago

Why would he appoint her? If it's not himself, I'd think he'd want someone within his inner circle.

JohnD3 hours ago

I think that's highly unlikely. More likely is the Lt. Gov. appointed Senator. As for relations, I think we're over that hurdle. Things have settled down. Seems "business as normal" to me.