Disney gets new weapon in bitter legal fight with Ron DeSantis

Disney received a legal boost in its First Amendment fight against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the controversial law dubbed “Don’t Say Gay,” court records show.

Attorneys for the House of Mouse last week submitted a new filing in their federal lawsuit alerting the court to former prosecutor Andrew Warren’s victory in a parallel freedom-of-speech fight, court records and reports show.

“The same values are at stake here,” Disney said in the filing.

The ruling Disney refers to saw the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revive a challenge from Warren, a Democrat, to the suspension he argues was a form of retaliation from DeSantis.

While DeSantis justified the suspension by arguing Warren hadn't been enforcing the law, the appeals court ruled last week that the Florida governor had lacked probable cause.

Similarly, Disney argues the Republican retaliated against the conglomerate when he signed a law revoking its special tax district in Florida.

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But DeSantis’ legal team slapped back with a response arguing Disney's case differs from Warren’s as Disney’s involves legislation passed and Warren's action taken, the Associated Press reports.

Both Warren and Disney were vocal critics of the controversial "Parental Rights in Education" bill, signed into law by DeSantis in 2022, which prohibits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

Disney’s filing quotes the opinion of 11th Circuit Judge Kevin Newsom, who found in favor of Warren last week.

“The state can’t exercise its coercive power to censor so-called ‘woke’ speech with which it disagrees,” Newsom wrote. “What’s good for mine is (whether I like it or not) good for thine.”