The judge for the lawsuit Disney filed against Florida Governor DeSantis and other Florida leaders has recused himself from the case. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday after the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted to nullify a Development Agreement that was made between Disney and the former Reedy Creek District. This was the most recent escalation of the disagreement between the Florida Governor and The Walt Disney Company.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Fitzpatrick has recused himself from the case saying that he is related “in the third degree” to someone employed by one of the parties in the lawsuit. This requires him to recuse himself from the case.
The lawsuit was filed by The Walt Disney Company on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Tallahassee, Florida. The lawsuit accuses DeSantis of waging a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against the company.
This lawsuit also alleges that DeSantis has a campaign to punish Disney over its political views, which DeSantis often refers to as “woke.’ Disney accuses DeSantis of illegally voiding a Development Agreement that transferred some powers from the district to Disney. Disney is asking for the Federal Court to declare that legislation dissolving the Development Agreement is both unlawful and also unenforceable. This includes the fact that it was “enacted in retaliation for Disney’s political speech in violation of the First Amendment. This campaign was “orchestrated at every step’” by DeSantis Disney says and it now threatens the company’s business.
At this point, a new judge has not been assigned for the case. Daps Magic will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.
