Might Trivago N.V. Have Settled Or Be Discussing Settlements For Libertad Act Lawsuits? There Are Clues...
/Palma de Mallorca, Spain-based Melia Hotels International (2018 revenues approximately US$2.4 billion) referenced the impact upon its operations in the Republic of Cuba from the decision by Dusseldorf, Germany-based Trivago N.V. (2018 revenues approximately US$1.1 billion) to “withdraw a large number of Cuban hotels from their sales channels…”
2019 Third Quarter Results published by Melia Hotels International references the impact upon its operations due to lawsuits filed against third-party online travel service providers in the United States using Title III provisions of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996 (known as “Libertad Act”).
“An impact is also expected from recent decisions by Trivago to withdraw a large number of Cuban hotels from their sales channels due to the application of Title III of the Helms Burton Act. All these circumstances point towards a medium single- digit decrease in RevPAR compared to the previous year, with Holguin, Cayo Largo and Havana being the destinations most affected.”
Melia Hotels International is a defendant in one lawsuit. Trivago is a defendant in four (4) lawsuits. Trivago N.V. is a subsidiary of Bellevue, Washington-based Expedia Group (2018 revenues approximately US$11.2 billion) which is a defendant in four (4) lawsuits.
Title III authorizes lawsuits in United States District Courts against companies and individuals who are using a certified claim or non-certified claim where the owner of the certified claim or non-certified claim has not received compensation from the Republic of Cuba or from a third-party who is using (“trafficking”) the asset.
By withdrawing some hotels from its Internet reservations platform, Trivago N.V. may be seeking to “stop the clock” on any trafficking. The Libertad Act permits a plaintiff to seek damages from two years prior to notification.
If there is a settlement of a lawsuit, then a Motion to Dismiss would be filed with the court where the case is being heard. A filing could be made as soon as twenty-four hours from the date of a settlement to a month or more. If a defendant is a publicly-traded company, then there would expectantly be an incentive to have a settlement reported promptly so that it may be included in required financial filings. LINK To Libertad Act Lawsuit Statistics
Previous Posts:
Four New Lawsuits Using Libertad Act Filed In Florida Against Trivago
https://www.cubatrade.org/blog/2019/6/23/new-lawsuits-filed-in-florida-using-libertad-act?rq=trivago
Trivago (Subsidiary of Expedia) Becomes Fifth Title III Libertad Act Lawsuit
U.S. Shareholders Control 10.04% Of Spain's Melia Hotels; Company Reports Libertad Act/Trump Administration Impact Upon Cuba Operations
https://www.cubatrade.org/blog/2019/11/10/xnlt2n3jfd0sc3k8yvc0495iqkvfo0
Melia Hotels, Expedia, Trivago, Orbitz, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Booking.com Added To Title III Libertad Class Action Lawsuit
Plaintiffs Appeal Dismissal Of Lawsuit In Spain Against Melia Hotels; Plaintiffs Sue In U.S.; Why Did Melia Hotels Offer US$5 Million Then US$3,197.75?
Court In Spain Dismisses Lawsuit Against Melia Hotels International Relating To Operations In Cuba; Plaintiffs Now Expected To Sue In U.S. Using Libertad Act
