NEWS: Disney, Former Reedy Creek District Agree to Trial Date in Latest Lawsuit

If you’re getting whiplash just trying to keep up with all the lawsuits involving Disney and the DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), you’re not alone.

In late December 2023, Disney filed a new lawsuit against the CFTOD, arguing they violated Florida public records laws. Now, we have an update on the status of that case.

A trial date has been set in the latest lawsuit involving Disney and the DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), the Orlando Sentinel reports.

In late December, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts filed a lawsuit against the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District accusing the District of failing to preserve and turn over public records in violation of Florida law and the state’s constitution.

©CFTOD

The full timeline for the lawsuit’s proceedings is listed below:

February 23rd: Amended pleadings and motions
April 12th: Completion of facts and expert discovery
March 1st: Written discovery
Mid-to-late March: Mediation (if necessary or agreed to)
June 17th: Pre-trail meeting
June 24th: Trial begins

Once known as Reedy Creek, it has now been renamed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

In the lawsuit, Disney claims the CFTOD has failed to fully respond to a public record request the company submitted to the government agency on May 11th. It goes on to claim the CFTOD allowed District employees and board members to use personal electronic devices, email, and messaging accounts for government business without sufficient processes to ensure public records are preserved.

©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board

Disney states in the filing that as many as 50 employees have departed the CFTOD since the new board was appointed by DeSantis in February, and the remaining employees are “exhausted” and lack confidence in the new administration. The lawsuit continues, “On the public records front, this has led to delays, inadequate preservation, storage and production of public records, and improper and unsupported claims of privilege and exemption from disclosure, in violation of the Florida Constitution and (Florida’s Public Record Act).”

©Disney

According to the complaint, the CFTOD relies on board members and employees to “self-select text messages or emails responsive to public record requests on their own, without technical instruction from the District or any effort to verify compliance.” The lawsuit also goes on to say that CFTOD failed to preserve data from the personal devices of departing employees.