Expedia Prevails With Jury Verdict In Libertad Act Title III Lawsuit By Non-Certified Claimants
/UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 19-22529-CIV-ALTONAGA/Reid
MARICELA MATA, et al., Plaintiffs, v. EXPEDIA, INC.; et al., Defendants.
FINAL JUDGMENT
THIS CAUSE came before the Court for a jury trial. (See Aug. 19, 21, 24–28, 31 Min. Entries [ECF Nos. 408, 411, 413, 418, 425, 429, 432, 442]). The issues having been duly tried, the jury rendered its finding that Plaintiffs, Mario Echevarría and Maricela Mata failed to carry their burdens on the first element of their claims under the Helms-Burton Act, 22 U.S.C. section 6082(a)(1). (See Echevarría Verdict [ECF No. 443] 2; Mata Verdict [ECF No. 444] 2). 1 Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows: 1. Final Judgment is entered in favor of Defendants, Expedia Group, Inc.; Expedia, Inc.; Hotels.com L.P.; and Orbitz, LLC on Count I of Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint [ECF No. 148]. 2. The Court reserves jurisdiction to enter such other and further orders as deemed proper. 3. The Clerk shall CLOSE the case. DONE AND ORDERED in Miami, Florida, this 31st day of August, 2026.
LINK To Jury Verdict In PDF Format
08/31/2026 FINAL JUDGMENT in favor of Defendants, Expedia Group, Inc.; Expedia, Inc.; Hotels.com L.P.; and Orbitz, LLC on Count I of Plaintiffs' Third Amended Complaint 148 . Closing Case. Signed by Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga on 8/31/2026. See attached document for full details. (nt)
08/31/2026 ORDER that Defendant, Hotels.com GP, LLC is DISMISSED from this action. Signed by Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga on 8/31/2026. See attached document for full details. (nt)
08/31/2026 Jury Notes. (nt) (Additional attachment(s) added on 8/31/2026: # 1 Restricted Unredacted Jury Note/Verdict) (nt).
08/31/2026 JURY VERDICT Regarding Claims of Maricela Mata. (nt) (Additional attachment(s) added on 8/31/2026: # 1 Restricted Unredacted Jury Note/Verdict) (nt).
08/31/2026 JURY VERDICT Regarding Claims of Mario Echevarria. (nt) (Additional attachment(s) added on 8/31/2026: # 1 Restricted Unredacted Jury Note/Verdict) (nt).
08/31/2026 PAPERLESS Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga: Jury Trial completed on 8/31/2026. Total time in court: 4 hours: 10 minutes. Attorney Appearances: Lorayne Perez, Andres Rivero, Jane Webre, Santosh Aravind, Lauren Ditty, Rebecca Jahnke, Genesis Martinez, Morgan Menchaca, David D. Shank, Ana C Malave, Francisco Raul Maderal, Jr, Nicole Estrada. Court Reporter: Stephanie McCarn, 305-523-5518 / Stephanie_McCarn@flsd.uscourts.gov. (nll)
08/31/2026 Clerk's Notice to Filer re 437 Notice (Other). Wrong Event Selected; ERROR - The Filer selected the wrong event. The document was re-docketed by the Clerk, see [de#440]. It is not necessary to refile this document. (ls)
08/31/2026 ORDER denying without prejudice 434 Plaintiffs' Motion re 22 U.S.C. § 6082(5)(D). Signed by Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga on 8/31/2026. See attached document for full details. (nt)
08/31/2026 ORDER denying 430 Defendant, Expedia, Inc.'s Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law as to Mario Echevarra and denying 431 Defendants' Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law as to Maricela Mata. Signed by Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga on 8/29/2026. See attached document for full details. (nt)
08/30/2026 RESPONSE to 436 Plaintiff's NOTICE of Filing Additional Proposed Revisions to Jury Verdict Forms by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia, Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC. (ls)(See Image at DE #437)
08/30/2026 NOTICE Defendants' Response to Plaintiffs' Additional Proposed Revisions to Verdict Forms by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia, Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC re 436 Notice (Other) (Perez, Lorayne)
08/30/2026 Plaintiff's NOTICE of Filing Additional Proposed Revisions to Jury Verdict Forms by Mario Echevarria, Marisela Mata (Maderal, Francisco)
08/30/2026 Defendant's NOTICE of Filing Proposed Revisions to the Court's Proposed Jury Instructions and Verdict Forms by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia, Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Jury Instructions 8.29.26, # 2 Exhibit Mata - Jury Verdict Form (08-29-26), # 3 Exhibit Echevarria - Jury Verdict Form (08-29-26)) (Perez, Lorayne)
08/29/2026 Plaintiff's MOTION re 22 U.S.C. § 6082(5)(D) by Mario Echevarria, Marisela Mata. Responses due by 9/14/2026. (Maderal, Francisco) Modified Text on 8/31/2026 (ls).
08/28/2026 PAPERLESS Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga: Motion Hearing held on 8/28/2026 re 430 MOTION for Judgment as a Matter of Law MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM filed by Expedia, Inc., 431 Defendant's MOTION for Judgment as a Matter of Law as to Maricela Mata MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM filed by Expedia Group Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Expedia, Inc., Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC. Total time in court: 2 hours: 30 minutes. Attorney Appearances: Lorayne Perez, Andres Rivero, Jane Webre, Santosh Aravind, Lauren Ditty, Rebecca Jahnke, Genesis Martinez, Morgan Menchaca, David D. Shank, Ana C Malave, Jorge Alejandro Mestre, Francisco Raul Maderal, Jr, Nicole Estrada. Court Reporter: Stephanie McCarn, 305-523-5518 / Stephanie_McCarn@flsd.uscourts.gov. (nll)
08/28/2026 PAPERLESS Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga: Jury Trial held on 8/28/2026. Day 7. Final testimony of Defendants' witnesses; close of evidence. Total time in court: 3 hours: 25 minutes. Attorney Appearances: Lorayne Perez, Andres Rivero, Jane Webre, Santosh Aravind, Lauren Ditty, Rebecca Jahnke, Genesis Martinez, Morgan Menchaca, David D. Shank, Ana C Malave, Jorge Alejandro Mestre, Francisco Raul Maderal, Jr, Nicole Estrada. Court Reporter: Stephanie McCarn, 305-523-5518 / Stephanie_McCarn@flsd.uscourts.gov. (nll)
08/28/2026 Defendant's MOTION for Judgment as a Matter of Law as to Maricela Mata ( Responses due by 9/11/2026.), MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia, Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC. (Perez, Lorayne)
08/28/2026 MOTION for Judgment as a Matter of Law ( Responses due by 9/11/2026.), MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM by Expedia, Inc.. (Perez, Lorayne)
08/27/2026 PAPERLESS Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga: Jury Trial held on 8/27/2026. Day 6. Testimony of Defendants' Witnesses. Total time in court: 6 hours: 35 minutes. Attorney Appearances: Lorayne Perez, Andres Rivero, Jane Webre, Santosh Aravind, Lauren Ditty, Rebecca Jahnke, Genesis Martinez, Morgan Menchaca, David D. Shank, Ana C Malave, Jorge Alejandro Mestre, Francisco Raul Maderal, Jr, Nicole Estrada. Court Reporter: Stephanie McCarn, 305-523-5518 / Stephanie_McCarn@flsd.uscourts.gov. (nll)
08/27/2026 NOTICE of Filing Proposed Revisions to Court's August 24 Proposed Jury Instructions by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia, Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Jury Instructions Aug 26) (Perez, Lorayne)
08/26/2026 NOTICE of Filing Advisory Regarding Timing of Anticipated Rule 50(a) Motion by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia, Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC (Perez, Lorayne)
08/26/2026 Proposed Jury Instructions by Expedia Group Inc., Expedia, Inc., Hotels.com GP, LLC, Hotels.com L.P., Orbitz, LLC. (Perez, Lorayne)
