Historic Helms-Burton Act case sets precedent for Cuban-American property claims
The federal jury in Miami made a revolutionary decision to award $29.85 million to Cuban-American Mario Echevarría in a lawsuit against Expedia Group and its subsidiaries.
The verdict came as a result of the first jury trial under the Helms-Burton Act, a U.S. law that permits Cuban citizens to seek damages from companies profiting from properties seized by the Cuban government.
The case
Echevarría is a naturalized U.S. citizen since 1983. He claimed ownership of land in Cayo Coco, Cuba. The property was expropriated from his family in 1959 under Fidel Castro's Agrarian Reform Law.
He alleged that Expedia and its subsidiaries Hotels.com and Orbitz facilitated bookings at hotels built on this piece of land, including Iberostar Mojito, Iberostar Colonial, and Pullman Cayo Coco, without appropriate authorization.
The lawsuit was filed under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which allows U.S. residents to take legal action against companies that traffic in confiscated property.
The jury found in favor of Echevarría and awarded $9.95 million in trebled damages against each of the four corporate defendants, which totaled $29.85 million.
Legal implications
The Helms-Burton Act was enacted in 1996. It had its Title III provision suspended for over two decades due to concerns about international relations. However, in 2019, the Trump administration activated Title III, which allowed lawsuits like Echevarría's to proceed.
Legal experts see this decision as a turning point in property rights litigation when it comes to foreign entities operating in Cuba.
Expedia's response
Expedia Group is one of the world's leading travel platforms, with headquarters in Seattle and annual revenues exceeding $13.6 billion.
Expedia has not publicly commented on the verdict, but legal analysts anticipate that it may consider appealing the decision.
Future considerations
For the Cuban-American community, this case holds deep value. Many of these people have lost properties during the Cuban revolution, but the verdict paints a bright and hopeful picture for potential compensation in the future.
Advocates hope that this decision will inspire other Cuban-Americans to assert their rights and seek redress for lost properties.
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