Alleged sex crimes have prompted a Disney lawsuit stemming from disturbing allegations that a former employee filmed under a young girl’s dress at one of its theme parks. The Disney lawsuit, filed in March 2025, revolves around an incident that occurred in 2023 involving an employee at Disney World’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge marketplace. WFTV News interviewed criminal defense attorney and television legal analyst Jose Rivas about the case.

The Incident and Allegations

The lawsuit alleges that Diaz Vega took a video up the dress of a 14-year-old girl while she was shopping for toys with her grandmother at the Star Wars-themed marketplace. The victim’s family claims that Disney failed to take adequate measures to prevent such behavior, despite prior incidents involving the same employee. According to investigators, Diaz Vega admitted to filming several women without their consent during his six-year tenure at Disney World.

“To succeed in this Disney lawsuit, the plaintiff needs to prove that this individual, the defendant, was working and that during the course of employment, he committed this act, and that Disney had a duty to investigate him,” Rivas said.

The lawsuit further alleges that Disney should have been aware of Diaz Vega’s unsuitability for his role and the danger he posed to visitors and employees.

Disney’s Alleged Negligence

The legal complaint accuses Disney of negligence in allowing Diaz Vega to continue working despite evidence of inappropriate behavior. The victim’s family asserts that Disney failed to properly screen or supervise its employees, creating an environment where such incidents could occur.

Rivas said there may be issues of corporate negligence in cases involving sex crimes. “There was a previous incident. In this case, they should have been aware, terminated his employment, or closely monitored him,” he said. “By permitting him to continue working, they were negligent and will be held accountable.”

The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000 and requests a jury trial. Legal experts believe this case could set a precedent for how theme parks and other large corporations handle employee misconduct.

Legal Implications and Sex Crime Allegations

The case highlights critical issues surrounding sex crimes, employee screening and supervision in environments frequented by families and children. It also underscores the broader societal concern about sex crimes committed by individuals in positions of trust.

Rivas emphasized the importance of vigilance in preventing such incidents related to sex crimes: “This case underscores the importance of being vigilant in your surroundings,” he said. “Here we have an individual in uniform attempting to record a minor; had it not been for an observant person, we may never have found out. As it is, we can’t know how many times this may have happened before.”

Key Elements Plaintiffs Must Prove

To hold Disney accountable under Florida law, the plaintiffs must establish several key elements:

• Employment Status: Demonstrate that Diaz Vega was actively employed by Disney at the time of the incident.
• Misconduct During Employment: Prove that Diaz Vega committed the act while performing his duties as an employee or during work hours.
• Negligence: Show that Disney failed to act on prior warnings or evidence suggesting Diaz Vega posed a risk to guests or employees.
• Causation: Connect Disney’s alleged negligence directly to the harm suffered by the victim.

Rivas noted that these elements are crucial for any civil litigation involving corporate liability for employee misconduct. “What the plaintiff needs to prove is not just what happened but also how Disney’s actions—or lack thereof—contributed to this incident,” he said.

Orlando Criminal Defense Attorney Jose Rivas is a veteran bilingual TV Legal Analyst who has appeared on Univision, Fox News, Telemundo and many other news outlets.