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A spokesman for Disney did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the court filing. The 27-page motion to dismiss was filed by attorneys for DeSantis and Meredith Ivey, named as secretary for Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity. "Disney lacks standing to sue the Governor and Secretary, who are also immune from suit," they argued in a filing in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee. After Disney criticized the Republican-backed classroom bill, DeSantis and his allies moved to dissolve that special tax district. Days later, the DeSantis-appointed board countersued in state court.

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Ron DeSantis to disqualify the judge overseeing the company's lawsuit accusing the governor and his allies of political retaliation. Attorneys for DeSantis had argued that Judge Mark Walker should recuse himself from the lawsuit over his comments in two separate cases that referenced the clash between the governor and the entertainment giant. Disney's lawsuit alleges that DeSantis "orchestrated at every step" a campaign to punish the company for speaking out against a Florida bill limiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity. The effort to remove Walker as the judge in Disney's civil case in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, Florida, came days before DeSantis launched his 2024 presidential campaign. Walker was nominated to serve as judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida in 2012 by then-President Barack Obama.

Ron DeSantis moved Friday to disqualify the federal judge overseeing Disney 's political retaliation lawsuit, alleging the judge's comments in previous cases raise doubts about his impartiality. Disney filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, Florida, after the company's development deals were nullified by a board of supervisors that DeSantis had picked to oversee the district that includes Walt Disney World. DeSantis had replaced the board with his preferred picks after he and his allies targeted Disney's special tax district. In doing so, the judge had "used the State's contemplated dissolution of Disney's special district as an example of retaliatory conduct," DeSantis' lawyers argued. "The Court's comments seemingly reflect its opinion on whether the State punished Disney's speech by revoking Disney's 'special status,'" they wrote.

Disney on Tuesday asked a Florida court to dismiss a lawsuit by the board of supervisors that Gov. By signing that legislation, DeSantis essentially carried out the same action that the board is asking the court to take, Disney argued. Disney filed suit after the board voted to undo development contracts that the company says it struck to secure its investments. Disney expanded its lawsuit last week, accusing DeSantis of doubling down on his political vendetta by signing legislation to void Disney's development deals in Orlando. In March, the district's new slate of supervisors accused Disney of crafting "11th-hour" development deals intended to thwart the board's power over the 25,000-acre area.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville, May 1, 2023. Ron DeSantis, accusing the Republican leader of doubling down on his "retribution campaign" against the company by signing legislation to void Disney's development deals in Orlando. Disney's amended lawsuit also noted that Florida's Republican-led legislature passed legislation last week targeting Walt Disney World's monorail system. On Friday, the final day of the state's 2023 legislative session, DeSantis signed a bill that included language effectively targeting Disney's development contracts. Linda Stewart, a Democrat representing Florida's 13th Senate district and a staunch critic of DeSantis' actions against Disney, called the feud between DeSantis and Disney "insane" and laid blame with her Republican counterparts.

Disney says the contracts were crafted to help lock in its long-term development plans amid escalating tension with DeSantis and his allies. "This feud between DeSantis and Disney is insane," Linda Stewart, a Democrat who represents Florida's 13th Senate district, told CNBC. Disney sued DeSantis and the board members last week, alleging a campaign of political retaliation led by the governor. In addition to voiding the development deals, the Florida Legislature passed a measure that would have the state transportation department conduct inspections of Walt Disney World's monorails. Earlier this month, the state education board approved an expansion of the classroom bill that kicked off the feud with Disney.

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