International Law
May 21, 2026
Supreme Court rules cruise operators may be liable for trafficking in confiscated Cuban property
The ruling is expected to have major implications for pending Helms-Burton litigation involving foreign and domestic companies accused of profiting from property confiscated during the Cuban Revolution. Since Title III became effective in 2019, federal courts -- particularly in South Florida -- have seen a wave of lawsuits targeting travel, tourism and infrastructure businesses operating in Cuba.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday revived a multibillion-dollar trafficking suit brought by Havana Docks Corporation against four major cruise operators, ruling that the companies may face liability under the Helms-Burton Act for using port facilities confiscated by the Cuban government after Fidel Castro's revolution.
The decision reinstates district court judgments exceeding $100 million against each cruise operator, although additional defenses remain unresolved on remand....
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