Current:Home > NewsAttorneys try to stop DeSantis appointees from giving depositions in Disney lawsuit-InfoLens
Attorneys try to stop DeSantis appointees from giving depositions in Disney lawsuit
View Date:2024-12-23 17:59:47
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Attorneys for the Walt Disney World governing district taken over last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ allies don’t want the governor’s appointees answering questions under oath as part of its state lawsuit against Disney.
District attorneys on Monday filed a motion for a protective order that would stop the DeSantis-appointed board members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District from having to give videotaped depositions to Disney attorneys.
Disney and the DeSantis appointees are fighting in state court over who controls the governing district for Disney World. The district had been controlled by Disney supporters before last year’s takeover — which was sparked by the company’s opposition to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law. It provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among other things, and was controlled by Disney supporters for most of its five decades.
District attorneys cite the “apex doctrine,” which generally provides that high-level government officers shouldn’t be subject to depositions unless opposing parties have exhausted all other means of obtaining information. The doctrine is used in just a handful of U.S. states, including Florida.
“Disney cannot demonstrate that the individual board members have unique, personal knowledge that would be relevant to any of the claims, counterclaims or defenses in this action to overcome the apex doctrine,” district attorneys said in their motion. “Disney’s assault-style effort to depose all the board members is simply an improper form of harassment of these high-level government officials.”
The motion includes statements from the board members who claim that being forced to give depositions would “impede” their ability to fulfill their duties and divert resources and attention away from overseeing the district.
Earlier this month, Disney gave notice of its intention to question under oath six current and past DeSantis-appointed board members for the purpose of “discovery,” or the process of gathering information for the case. The entertainment giant has said previously that the district has stymied its efforts to get documents and other information, and Disney filed a public records lawsuit against the district earlier this year, claiming the district’s response to its requests were “unreasonably delayed” and “woefully inadequate.”
Since the takeover last year, the district has faced an exodus of experienced staffers, with many in exit surveys complaining that the governing body has been politicized since the changeover. Just this month, the district’s administrator left to become a county elections supervisor at half the $400,000 salary he was earning at the district, and the district’s DeSantis-appointed board chairman departed the following week.
A fight between DeSantis and Disney began in 2022 after the company, facing significant internal and external pressure, publicly opposed a state law that critics have called “Don’t Say Gay.” The 2022 law bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades and was championed by DeSantis, who used Disney as a punching bag in speeches until he suspended his presidential campaign this year.
As punishment, DeSantis took over the district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors.
Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights were violated for speaking out against the legislation. A federal judge dismissed that lawsuit in January. Disney has appealed.
Before control of the district changed hands from Disney allies to DeSantis appointees early last year, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney shifting control over design and construction at Disney World to the company. The new DeSantis appointees claimed the “eleventh-hour deals” neutered their powers, and the district sued the company in state court in Orlando to have the contracts voided.
Disney has filed counterclaims that include asking the state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on X, formerly known as Twitter: @MikeSchneiderAP.
veryGood! (513)
Related
- After entire police force resigns in small Oklahoma town, chief blames leaders, budget cuts
- Sam Reich on revamping the game show - and Dropout's success as a small streamer
- Punishing storm finally easing off in Southern California but mudslide threat remains
- SZA speaks out about losing album of the year to Taylor Swift at the Grammys
- Cold case arrest: Florida man being held in decades-old Massachusetts double murder
- Record rainfall, triple-digit winds, hundreds of mudslides. Here’s California’s storm by the numbers
- Federal judge approves election map settlement between Nebraska county and 2 tribes
- How many Super Bowls have Chiefs won? Kansas City's championship history explained
- Suspect arrested after deadly Tuskegee University homecoming shooting
- Landon Barker and Charli D'Amelio Break Up After More Than a Year of Dating
Ranking
- Who's hosting 'SNL' tonight? Musical guest, start time, where to watch Nov. 9 episode
- Prince William Returns to Royal Duties Amid King Charles III’s Cancer Treatment
- Tyla wins first Best African Music Performance award for Water at 2024 Grammys
- Viewing tower, visitor’s center planned to highlight West Virginia’s elk restoration
- Army veteran reunites with his K9 companion, who served with him in Afghanistan
- Henry Cavill Reveals Why He Doesn't Like Sex Scenes
- Christian McCaffrey Weighs in on Fiancée Olivia Culpo and Mom Lisa McCaffrey’s Super Bowl Suite Clash
- Usher songs we want to hear at the Super Bowl 58 halftime show, from 'Yeah!' to 'OMG'
Recommendation
-
World War II veteran reflects on life as he turns 100
-
Powerball winning numbers for Monday night's drawing, with jackpot now at $214 million
-
LA.Dodgers bring back Clayton Kershaw, who will miss first half of 2024 MLB season
-
California storms cause flooding, mudslides across the state as record rainfall hits West Coast
-
Judge hears case over Montana rule blocking trans residents from changing sex on birth certificate
-
Honda recalls 750,000 vehicles over air bag flaw
-
A diamond in the rough: South Carolina Public Works employee helps woman recover lost wedding ring.
-
Washington gun shop and its former owner to pay $3 million for selling high-capacity ammo magazines