Expedia Defeats 2 Cuban Americans in Miami Property-Trafficking Case
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 31
Expedia Defeats 2 Cuban Americans in Miami Property-Trafficking Case
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 31
Summary
A Miami federal jury ruled for Expedia Group on Monday, rejecting claims by two Cuban Americans that the company trafficked in confiscated Cuban property through bookings at five hotels.
The verdict turned on evidence: jurors found the plaintiffs failed to prove ownership of the land or provide official records showing the properties had been confiscated.
That finding meant the jury did not reach Expedia’s separate defense that the bookings were made under U.S. travel licenses issued during the Obama administration.
The case was brought under the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which lets naturalized U.S. citizens sue companies that profit from property seized in Cuba after the 1959 revolution.
It was Expedia’s second Cuba-linked courtroom win after it beat a separate lawsuit last year seeking more than $1.7 billion over hotel bookings on formerly family-owned land.