BUSINESS BRIEFING / COURTS

Walt Disney Co. won dismissal of a lawsuit claiming that a ban on personal two-wheel transporters at its facilities violates federal disabilities laws, after a judge rejected a proposed settlement.

Two Illinois residents and one from Iowa sued Disney in November 2007 after the company barred them from using the Segway Personal Transporter on family vacations at four theme parks in Florida. As an alternative to Segways, Disney agreed in December to acquire at least 15 newly designed electric stand-up vehicles to settle the case.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell in Orlando voided an earlier decision granting preliminary approval to the settlement and threw out the case. The plaintiffs, who are all able to use wheelchairs or scooters, failed to show that Segways were “necessary” to access the park, Presnell said.