Expedia Prevails As Judge In Libertad Act Cuba Lawsuit Rules On "Claim-Splitting"

U.S. District Court
Southern District of Florida (Miami)
CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:19-cv-22529-CMA

Mata et al v. Expedia, Inc., et al
Assigned to: Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga
Referred to: Magistrate Judge Lisette M. Reid
Cause: 22:6082 Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996    
Date Filed: 06/18/2019
Jury Demand: Plaintiff
Nature of Suit: 890 Other Statutory Actions
Jurisdiction: Federal Question

Link To Court Document

THIS CAUSE came before the Court upon Defendants, Expedia Group, Inc. (“Expedia Group”); Expedia, Inc.; Hotels.com L.P.; Hotels.com GP; and Orbitz, LLC’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint [ECF No. 156]. Plaintiffs, Maricela Mata, Bibiana Hernandez, José Ramón López Regueiro, Mario Echevarría, Aureliano A. Echevarría, and Maria Echevarría Ochoa filed a Response [ECF No. 159]; to which Defendants filed a Reply [ECF No. 160]. The Court has reviewed the parties’ written submissions, the record, and applicable law. For the following reasons, the Motion is granted in part.

Because all four elements of claim preclusion are satisfied, the Court dismisses Mario Echevarría’s claim against Expedia Group, Hotels.com L.P., Hotels.com GP, and Orbitz, LLC. The Court does not dismiss his claim against Expedia, Inc.

Dismissal of Maria Echevarría Ochoa and Aureliano Echevarría’s claims based on claim-splitting is warranted.