Disney's Abandoned $1B Florida Relocation Plan Breeds Employee Class-Action Suit In Fallout From DeSantis Dust-Up
Who filed the lawsuit against Disney and why?
Disney's now-abandoned Florida relocation plan for staffers has led to a potential class-action lawsuit against the company. Two Disney employees, Maria De La Cruz and George Fong, have filed the lawsuit on behalf of themselves and over 250 other employees. They claim that Disney's false representations regarding the Lake Nona project in Florida caused them to suffer various harms, including losses related to selling their homes in California and purchasing new homes in Florida. The employees relied on Disney's statements about the project, which was ultimately canceled, and now seek unspecified damages.
How did the legal battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis impact Disney's decision?
The legal battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis played a significant role in Disney's decision to abandon its Florida relocation plan. Disney's now-abandoned plan to move some California operations and employees to Orlando's Lake Nona area was impacted by the political and bureaucratic control issues surrounding Disney World, as well as the dispute over the Don't Say Gay law. The uncertainty and disruption caused by the legal battle contributed to Disney pulling the plug on the $1 billion Lake Nona project, which in turn led to the current class-action lawsuit filed by affected employees.
What was Disney's abandoned Florida relocation plan?
Disney's abandoned Florida relocation plan involved moving 2,000 California employees to a proposed $1 billion campus in Orlando's Lake Nona area. The plan was initiated to take advantage of Florida tax credits and create a centralized workplace. However, the plan was canceled in May 2023 due to changing business conditions and the legal battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the "Don't Say Gay" law. A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of affected employees who suffered losses due to selling their homes in California and purchasing new homes in Florida3.