LA Disney Employees Sue Over Scrapped Florida Relocation Plans
CALIFORNIA (June 20, 2024) — Two Walt Disney Company employees are suing the entertainment giant after selling their Southern California homes and relocating to Florida, only to have the company cancel the planned move two years later.
Maria De La Cruz and George Fong, who worked for Disney in Glendale, filed a proposed class-action lawsuit Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit, still pending filing, claims they were informed in 2021 that their jobs would be moved to a new campus in Florida. As a result, both sold their California homes and purchased new homes in Florida.
The lawsuit alleges that the employees and others were left uncertain about their job security at Disney if they did not return to California. Additionally, it notes that housing prices in the planned development area in Florida dropped significantly, while home prices in Los Angeles increased sharply from the summer of 2022 to the summer of 2023. Higher mortgage rates also made it impossible for the plaintiffs to obtain housing comparable to what they had sold.
George Fong eventually returned to California after negotiating financial terms with Disney but was dissatisfied with the company’s offer, which he felt did not adequately compensate for his losses. He managed to sell his Florida home and purchase a new, smaller home in South Pasadena earlier this year. Maria De La Cruz is still in the process of moving back to California.
The Disney lawsuit accuses the company of solicitation of employees by misrepresentation, intentional misrepresentation, concealment, and negligent misrepresentation. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
If you or someone you know has been affected by employment misrepresentation or relocation issues, contact the experienced attorneys at RTM Law Firm. Our team is dedicated to ensuring your rights are protected and you receive fair compensation for any losses incurred.
