Jury Clears Expedia Group of Trafficking Confiscated Cuban Assets

A federal civil court jury in Miami ruled in favor of Expedia Group on Monday, concluding that Cuban American plaintiffs Mario Echevarria and Maricela Mata failed to prove they owned tourism properties in Cuba. The plaintiffs sought $82 million in damages, alleging the travel booking company trafficked in assets seized by the Cuban government after the 1959 revolution by facilitating bookings at the San Carlos hotel in Cienfuegos and properties on Cayo Coco.

The lawsuit relied on the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which permits naturalized U.S. citizens to sue companies using confiscated property. Expedia's legal team argued the company was unaware the hotels were on confiscated land and operated under authorized travel licenses. While the jury did not rule on the legality of those licenses, the lack of concrete ownership records rendered other legal arguments redundant.

This verdict marks a second victory for Expedia in similar litigation. However, a separate 2025 verdict that awarded Echevarria $30 million for other Cayo Coco hotels was previously set aside by a judge and remains under appeal. The case is part of a broader surge of 40 to 50 similar lawsuits filed following the end of a suspension of the Helms-Burton Act's enforcement.