Former workers sue Disney, consulting companies over layoffs

Two former technology employees at Walt Disney World in Florida are suing Disney and the outsourcing companies they say colluded to break the law and replace workers with cheaper immigrant labor.

Representing both former employees, attorney Sara Blackwell filed lawsuits in Tampa federal court Monday against Disney and two consulting companies, HCl Inc. and Cognizant.

Blackwell says her clients, leo Perrero and Dena Moore, were among 250 tech workers laid off by Disney last year. She says Disney is colluding with consulting companies to abuse visas meant to fill specialty occupations and replace American workers with immigrants.

Disney said in a statement that the lawsuits are based on an unsustainable legal theory and are a misrepresentation of the facts. Cognizant said in a statement that it complies with all U.S. regulations regarding the visas.

An email seeking comment from HCl wasn't immediately returned.