The DeSantis administration, however, learned about the agreement in March and then scrambled to respond.

David Thompson, the managing partner from Cooper & Kirk, a Washington, D.C. law firm hired by the newly-installed board, said Disney’s agreements giving it developmental power were not following state law, quoting that they were “illegal, and they will not stand.” Thompson then compared Disney to Scrooge McDuck.

Thompson and Alan Lawson, former Supreme Court Justice, who was also hired by the board, said the district was in violation of the Florida constitution because it gave authority to a private company, and also did not establish procedures before accepting a new developmental agreement at a Feb. 8 meeting.

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The fight against Disney and DeSantis began nearly a year ago after Disney opposed the Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed as the “Don’t Say Gay,” that prohibits teachers from leading classroom discussions on gender identity and sexual identity in kindergarten through third grade.

DeSantis, who signed the bill into law in March, criticized Disney as a “woke” corporation and pushed the GOP-controlled Legislature to strip the company of much of its authority over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which allowed Disney to operate its own local government.

The board will meet again on April 26, where staff has been asked to make a resolution voiding the agreements.