In a newly filed document today, Disney Parks has filed an intent to record videotaped depositions of the entire Board of Supervisors for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The notice says that depositions will be taken in the following order, noting that even resigned former Board of Supervisors member Michael Sasso is included:
- Martin Garcia | March 22nd
- Charbel Barakat | April 2nd
- Ron Peri | April 2nd
- Bridget Ziegler | April 3rd
- Brian Aungst Jr. | April 11th
- Michael Sasso | April 12th
The depositions are part of the ongoing lawsuit originally brought by CFTOD against Disney to ask a judge to nullify existing contracts between the District and Disney that the District contends were designed to strip it of many of its local governing powers. The contract was signed between the District and Disney before Florida Governor Ron DeSantis installed his hand-picked Board of Supervisors.
Disney is countersuing the District, and the depositions are part of the discovery process that is currently underway.
Last week, the Board of Supervisors met in a closed-door meeting with District lawyers to discuss “strategy and settlement negotiations related to litigation expenditures”. The District is currently entangled with Disney in three lawsuits:
- The federal lawsuit that is currently on appeal in the Eleventh Circuit regarding First Amendment retaliation by DeSantis with the CFTOD listed as a defendant
- The state-level lawsuit brought by the District against Disney alleging improper contracts entered into between Disney and the former Reedy Creek Board of Supervisors
- The state-level lawsuit brought by Disney against the District where Disney alleges violations of the Florida Public Records Act
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!