Disney goes on offense in DeSantis board’s lawsuit, seeks damages for breach of contract

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Disney CEO Bob Iger, left, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.David A. Grogan | CNBCFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis may say he’s “moved on” from his long-running feud with Disney, but the House of Mouse isn’t easing up.Disney has filed counterclaims, including a breach of contracts claim, against the board of supervisors picked by DeSantis to oversee Walt Disney World’s special tax district, a Thursday court filing shows.The company seeks damages over the alleged breach, as well as a court order for the district to comply with development contracts that are at the heart of the legal fight between Disney and DeSantis.Disney’s requests came in a 55-page filing denying the district board’s allegations in its state-level lawsuit against the entertainment giant. Disney’s filing also put forward 12 “affirmative defenses” against the board, including that it lacks standing for its claims.Spokespeople for the board and Disney did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for comment.Disney is suing DeSantis and his hand-picked board members in a related federal lawsuit accusing the governor of political retaliation after the company denounced the controversial classroom bill dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics.CNBC PoliticsRead more of CNBC’s politics coverage:DeSantis and his allies targeted the special tax district, formerly called the Reedy Creek Improvement District, that has allowed Florida’s Walt Disney World to self-govern its operations since the 1960s …

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