Displaced workers relocated nationwide for a project, only for it to be terminated by Disney; they're now launching a legal dispute.
Group is initiating a class action lawsuit, claiming numerous individuals confront a similar predicament.
In 2021, Disney CEO Bob Chapek made a decision to shift 2,000 positions from California to Florida, which Bob Iger rescinded in 2023 after his return as CEO. The company abandoned the $1 billion Lake Nona office complex amid a legal and political struggle with Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, a dispute that has since been resolved.
The complainants, Maria De La Cruz and George Fong, work in Disney’s product design division. De La Cruz is the vice president of product design, and Fong is a creative director, according to the lawsuit filed by Lohr Ripamonti LLP on Tuesday.
The lawsuit seeks an undisclosed amount in damages and is pending approval by the Superior Court of Los Angeles.
The complaint alleges that Disney deceived and concealed its real intentions for the Lake Nona project, causing financial and other harm to at least 250 employees who relocated from California to Florida.
The complaint explains that these employees were told about the project to move 2,000 roles to Florida in July 2021, with Disney stating that those who declined relocation would lose their jobs.
The complaint details how De La Cruz and Fong sold their homes in Southern California and purchased homes in Central Florida. In Fong’s case, he sold the family home he had inherited.
Following the cancellation of the Lake Nona office project, De La Cruz emailed human resources about the future for those who opted to stay in Florida, expressing concerns about job security, stating, "After all of this, will there be any security in our positions? My fear would be that we decide to stay in Florida, only to be laid off in the next year or so. I don’t want to be punished for being put into a situation my company put me in," the complaint states.
The complaint states that De La Cruz and Fong decided to return to California to keep their jobs, but housing prices near Lake Nona had dropped significantly after Disney’s announcement. Fong reported difficulties selling his Florida home, and when he was able to move back to California, mortgage rates and home prices had increased so rapidly that he could only afford a smaller home than before.
"Ms. De La Cruz, Mr. Fong, and many others moved to Florida because they love their jobs, they admire their coworkers, and they cherish Disney," said Attorney Jason Lohr.
Disney hasn't responded to a request for comment.
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In response to Disney's decision, some affected employees are exploring the possibility of using social media platforms to share their experiences and rally support for their cause within the business community.
Given the high-profile nature of the legal dispute, various business analysts are closely monitoring the developments, considering their potential implications for the media industry's trust in major corporations.
