1
Image Credit: Inside The MagicWalt Disney World Resort is hitting back hard against Ron DeSantis and its Governing District, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), as preparations are underway for all board members to be videotaped under testimony.
Disney Seeks Out Recorded Depositions From Entire CFTOD Board as It Seeks Victory Against Ron DeSantis
Walt Disney World Parks has taken a significant legal step by filing a document today indicating their intent to record videotaped depositions of the entire Board of Supervisors for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The notice outlines the schedule for the depositions, which includes even resigned former Board member Michael Sasso:
- Martin Garcia | March 22
- Charbel Barakat | April 2
- Ron Peri | April 2
- Bridget Ziegler | April 3
- Brian Aungst Jr. | April 11
- Michael Sasso | April 12
These depositions are part of the ongoing lawsuit originally initiated by CFTOD against Disney, seeking to nullify existing contracts between the District and Disney. The District asserts that these contracts were structured to diminish its local governing powers. These contracts were finalized before Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed the current Board of Supervisors. In response, Disney has filed a countersuit against the District. In the Disney DeSantis battle, Gov Ron DeSantis seems to be victorious in more ways than one. The Walt Disney Company is seeking a victory win in its lawsuit in Orlando between WDW and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Lawsuits Between the House of Mouse and the CFTOD – Secret Meeting?
The deposition process is a crucial component of the discovery phase currently underway. The Board of Supervisors recently convened in a closed-door session with District attorneys to discuss “strategy and settlement negotiations related to litigation expenditures.”
The District finds itself embroiled in three lawsuits with Disney:
- A federal lawsuit, presently under appeal in the Eleventh Circuit, concerning First Amendment retaliation by DeSantis, with the CFTOD listed as a defendant.
- The District initiated A state-level lawsuit against Disney, alleging improper contracts between Disney and the former Reedy Creek Board of Supervisors.
- Another state-level lawsuit initiated by Disney against the District, alleging violations of the Florida Public Records Act.
The option to record all of the board members comes after it was announced that CFTOD Administrator Glen Gilzean would be asked to come in for a deposition hearing and videotaped before Disney to use the testimony in court.
Depositions aside, Ron DeSantis is coming off high after a significant win in the Federal Court where the landmark First Amendment case between himself and Disney World was officially dismissed, which landed things in DeSantis’ court.
The Florida Governor also held a press conference last week where he and other State officials took a victory lap around Walt Disney World to celebrate its one-year takeover of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District. The press conference highlighted all the positive things that have been done and improved since DeSantis took over in 2023.
With April next month, Disney is also dealing with the upcoming Disney Board of Directors voting session, which it hopes will keep the company in charge and away from billionaires like Nelson Peltz or Blackwells Capitol.