Judge Whose Daughter Works for Disney Removes Herself From Suit By Pair of Locals

Two members of a Walt Disney Co. product design team who have sued the entertainment giant, alleging that the company coerced them and other colleagues to relocate from Southern California to Orlando, have been assigned a new judge in the case because the first bench officer has a family member employed by Disney.

On Wednesday, Supervising Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David S. Cunningham III transferred the case brought by Maria De La Cruz, formerly of Altadena, and South Pasadena resident George Fong to Judge Lawrence P. Riff. A status conference is scheduled Sept. 20.

The previous judge managing the case, Carolyn B. Kuhl, removed herself from the case June 25 because her daughter works for Disney.

According to the misrepresentation/concealment suit brought June 18, Disney asked De La Cruz and Fong in 2021 to relocate to Lake Nona, a planned community in Orlando, promising them affordable housing, good schools and a new office with many benefits.

De La Cruz and Fong say they gave up their California residences in 2022 and bought new homes in Orlando, where home prices had actually increased due to the new facility. The project was canceled in 2023.