Expedia In Cuba Libertad Act Lawsuit Argues "Plaintiffs lack a good faith basis to allege trafficking conduct after 2020"
/U.S. District Court
Southern District of Florida (Miami)
CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:25-cv-20711-FAM
Echevarria et al v. Expedia Group Inc. et al
Assigned to: Judge Federico A. Moreno
Referred to: Magistrate Judge Ellen F. D'Angelo
Cause: 22:6082 Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996
Date Filed: 02/14/2025
Jury Demand: Plaintiff
Nature of Suit: 890 Other Statutory Actions
Jurisdiction: Federal Question
01/22/2026- PAPERLESS Minute Order for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Ellen F. D'Angelo: Motion Hearing held on 1/22/2026 re 26 Amended MOTION TO DISMISS 18 Amended Complaint/Amended Notice of Removal, FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM and Incorporated Memorandum of Law filed by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC. Hearing held. The Court heard the arguments of the parties on the pending Motion to Dismiss (DE 26). Total time in court: 3 hour(s). Attorney Appearance(s): Andres Rivero, Lorayne Perez, David D. Shank (Digital 15:14:25 to 17:05:47 / Back up 260122164230) (ar24)
01/21/2026- Defendant's RESPONSE to 52 Notice of Supplemental Authority by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC. (Perez, Lorayne)
01/21/2026- Notice of Supplemental Authority re 27 Response in Opposition to Motion, by Aureliano A Echevarria, Maria Echevarria Ochoa (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Composite Exhibit A) (Rivero, Andres)
01/20/2026- Plaintiff's NOTICE REGARDING ORDER SETTING HEARING ON MOTION TO DISMISS by Aureliano A Echevarria, Maria Echevarria Ochoa re 50 Notice (Other), 49 Order Setting Hearing on Motion, (Rivero, Andres)
01/20/2026- Defendant's NOTICE Regarding Position Regarding Order Setting Hearing on Motion to Dismiss by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC re 49 Order Setting Hearing on Motion, (Perez, Lorayne)
01/13/2026- ORDER SETTING DISCOVERY MOTIONS HEARING. Discovery Motion Hearing (DE 26) set for 1/22/2026 02:00 PM in Miami Division before Magistrate Judge Ellen F. D'Angelo. Signed by Magistrate Judge Ellen F. D'Angelo on 1/13/2026. See attached document for full details. (kpe)
DEFENDANTS’ RESPONSE TO PLAINTIFFS’ NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY (ECF NO. 52): The ruling in Mata v. Expedia Group, Inc., does not compel this Court to hold that Plaintiffs’ action is not time barred. First, the plaintiffs in Mata, like Plaintiffs here, alleged that the defendants trafficked in confiscated property “until at least” a time before the two-year repose period, see Mata, slip op. at 15, and argued that this allegation “acknowledges possible trafficking until a later date,” Pls.’Opp’n Mot. Dismiss at 9, Mata, ECF No. 159. From this, the Mata court concluded that the plaintiffs’ allegations were “ambiguous” as to when the alleged trafficking ceased and, thus the claims were not time barred on their face. Mata, slip op. at 14–15. But here there is no ambiguity because Plaintiffs’ counsel conceded that there is no “good-faith basis that there was any bookings, any activity relevant to…the subject hotels…after 2020.” (Hr’g Tr. 44:21–45:6, Dec. 16, 2025.) Because Plaintiffs lack a good faith basis to allege trafficking conduct after 2020, their allegations cannot be interpreted as pleading any such conduct. Second, even without Plaintiffs’ concession, Mata is not binding authority, and contrary rulings from two other courts are more persuasive. See Rodriguez, 2023 WL 9228332, at *10; Moreira, 573 F.Supp.3d at 928.
