US$29.85 Million Jury Verdict Against Expedia For Cuba Activities Set Aside By U.S. District Court In Miami
/MARIO ECHEVARRIA, Plaintiff, vs. EXPEDIA, INC., HOTELS.COM L.P., HOTELS.COM GP, LLC, and ORBITZ, LLC, Defendants. Case Number: 19-22621-CIV-MORENO
5 September 2025
“VI. CONCLUSION
A trial court's decision to set aside a jury's verdict should never be taken lightly, particularly in a case where great lawyers on both sides have well represented their clients admirably, with passion but respect, over a long period of time. Much time and money has been spent by the parties and counsel as the Court struggled with the multitude of legal issues, which may well be decided differently by the wiser Court of Appeals. Perhaps, now we understand better the decisions of our United States Presidents, both Democrat and Republican, to suspend provisionally Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act. There may be little comfort for either side of this first-ever Helms-Burton Act jury trial in President Trump's decision in his first term not to defer any longer the bipartisan Congressional intent in 1996, after the shooting of the airplanes used to save Cuban refugees fleeing the island suffering a Communist dictatorship for the last 65 years. After all, even without a money judgment in favor of Plaintiff, the intent of the Helms-Burton Act was indeed followed. Those parties who are notified that their actions violate the Act must stop their activity. Defendants did cease bookings with the hotels located on Plaintiffs inherited property within the 30 days provided by the Act and thus complied with the purpose of the law passed by· Congress and signed by President Clinton. Therefore, the Court sets aside the jury verdicts and enters judgments in. favor of Defendants Expedia Group, Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., and Orbitz, LLC.”
On 18 April 2025, a jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami, Division, held that defendant Expedia and three related entities were ordered to pay US$29.85 million to the plaintiffs for violating provisions of Title III of the the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996 (known as “Libertad Act” or “Helms-Burton Act”).
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.
The Trump-Pence Administration (2017-2021) on 2 May 2019 made operational Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act.
The plaintiffs sued Expedia for offering reservations for resorts constructed on a barrier island within the internationally-recognized territory of the Republic of Cuba. The plaintiffs argued the property was confiscated absent compensation by the government of the Republic of Cuba.
LINK: Expedia Owes US$29.85 Million From First Jury Decision In Libertad Act Lawsuit For "Trafficking" In Expropriated Cuba Asset. April 19, 2025
