Florida judge has dismissed Walt Disney Co’s solicitation to excuse a claim filed by an oversight district, potentially complicating Disney’s own legal battle against Governor Ron DeSantis.

The oversight district’s lawsuit aims to nullify “private cabin bargains” that were brokered between Disney and a previous district board earlier this year. If these arrangements are indeed voided, it could significantly weaken Disney’s government argument against Governor DeSantis.

The ongoing dispute between Disney and DeSantis stems from the controversy surrounding a Florida regulation that prohibits classroom discussions on sexuality and gender identity with younger children. Disney strongly opposed this regulation, prompting Governor DeSantis to take action and reconstitute the district, thereby transferring control over the board from Disney to his office.

In response, Disney filed a federal claim against Governor DeSantis, accusing him of using the state government to target the company for its stance against the regulation on gender identity discussions.

The lawsuit filed by Disney seeks to prevent the state from enforcing regulations that target the company and to reinstate the development agreements previously established with the district’s board.

A Disney representative has asserted that the judge’s decision to dismiss their request has no impact on their government claim and expressed confidence in prevailing in both state and federal cases.

The legal battle between Disney and Governor DeSantis has captured public attention, given the significance of the issues involved and the high-profile nature of the parties. The outcome of this complex legal dispute could have far-reaching implications not only for the company and the state of Florida but also for discussions surrounding gender identity and its place in educational settings.