Judge Allows Court TV to Televise Disneyland Trial

Overruling the objections of the Walt Disney Co., an Orange County Superior Court judge said Monday that he’ll permit televised coverage of the upcoming trial involving a former Mouseketeer who is suing the company because she was robbed in the parking lot at Disneyland.

Disney had argued that broadcasting the proceedings would reveal its security procedures to criminals who could use that knowledge to prey on visitors to the Anaheim amusement park.

But Judge Richard Luesebrink said that he’ll allow the Court TV to bring cameras into the courtroom, though he may set some restrictions on what can be aired. Luesebrink, who will will hear further arguments on the matter on June 20, said he wants to hear more justification from Disney about why the company wants a raft of witness testimony excluded from coverage.

The trial was scheduled to begin today, but Robert O’Connor, attorney for plaintiff Billie Jean Matay, asked for a continuance because of a conflict with his schedule.

In briefs filed with the court, Disney has tried to persuade Luesebrink to deny TV coverage, seal court records and close the courtroom to the press and public “where necessary” to protect the confidentiality of security at the park.

Disney attorney Stephen Waimey denied Monday that the company’s requests were in any way an infringement on press freedom or the people’s right of access to public courts, adding, “This is a sideshow. We are concerned about the security of our guests.”

However, Court TV attorney Guylyn Cummins said she’ll oppose Disney’s attempts to limit what can be broadcast.

Former Mouseketeer Matay, her daughter Denise Bennett and Matay’s three grandchildren were robbed at gunpoint by a lone assailant in the Disneyland parking lot on Aug. 17, 1995.

Matay is suing the theme park for negligence and false imprisonment in connection with that incident, alleging that Disneyland security was slow to respond and held the family for interrogation “against their will.”