The Property Dispute From Cuba – How One Company Is Fighting Back
What happens when an American company has property in another country that is confiscated by the government of that country? While that may sound like the beginning of an interesting movie, the fact is that the team at Colson Hicks Eidson is helping a client in this situation. In several cases surrounded by history and politics, Havana Docks (represented by Colson Hicks Eidson) is working to seek justice.
What is happening in these cases?
The cases (Havana Docks Corporation v Norwegian Cruise Line; Havana Docks Corporation v. Carnival Corporation; Havana Docks Corporation v. Royal Caribbean Cruises; and, Havana Docks Corporation v. MSC Cruises) have their roots in the early 1900s. Havana Docks claims it is “the rightful owner of an interest in and claim to certain commercial waterfront real property in the Port of Havana, Cuba.”
The complaint states that Havana Docks owned the Havana Cruise Port Terminal continuously from 1917 until it was confiscated by the Cuban government in 1960. The property has never been returned to Havana Docks and it has never received “adequate or effective” compensation for the property.
Havana Docks’ claim to the property has been certified by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission (the “FCSC”) pursuant to the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, 22 U.S.C. § 1621.
In 1996, Congress passed the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act (LIBERTAD Act), also referred to as the Helms-Burton Act. In part, this law was meant to protect US nationals against “confiscatory takings and wrongful trafficking in property confiscated by the Castro regime.”
Havana Docks filed a claim under the LIBERTAD Act against several cruise industry companies, including Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, LTD. (“NCL”), for illegal trafficking on the confiscated property. The Honorable U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom recently entered several orders in favor of Havana Docks allowing the lawsuits to proceed.
We are here to help
At Colson Hicks Eidson, our firm has vast experience helping clients secure compensation when they have been wronged by another person, company, or entity. We are not afraid to take on major companies, insurance carriers, or even foreign governments. We take cases in Florida and throughout the United States, and have the resources to handle every aspect of your claim. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at 305-476-7400.
