Cuban-American Wins $29M Verdict Against Expedia Under Helms-Burton Act

A federal jury in the United States has ordered travel corporation Expedia Group to pay $29.85 million in damages to Cuban-American plaintiff Mario Echevarría, marking the first jury verdict under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act since its activation in 2019.

The case centered on land in Cayo Coco, Cuba, confiscated by the Cuban government following the 1959 revolution. Hotels were later developed on the site, and Expedia was found to have facilitated bookings for these properties through its online platforms.

Echevarría, whose family once owned the land, brought the case forward under Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act—commonly known as the Helms-Burton Act. This provision allows U.S. citizens, including naturalized Cuban-Americans, to sue companies profiting from property nationalized by the Cuban government without compensation.

According to court documents, Expedia “trafficked” in the property by promoting and booking stays at hotels built on expropriated land, violating the legal protections afforded to the original owners under U.S. law.

According to documents reviewed by the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, Expedia filed a sealed motion just 48 hours before the jury verdict, reportedly involving a confidential settlement agreement that had been proposed months earlier by Echevarría’s legal team. However, the jury was not informed of this motion, and the court proceeded with its deliberations.

The verdict could set a powerful precedent, potentially opening the door to hundreds of similar lawsuits by Cuban-Americans seeking compensation for assets seized by the Cuban state. Legal experts say the ruling sends a message to international corporations operating in Cuba that they could face significant financial risk if found to be profiting from expropriated property.

This case is one of several filed since Title III was activated in 2019 by the Trump administration. The ruling may further strain U.S.–Cuba relations and complicate foreign investment on the island.

The Helms-Burton Act, passed in 1996, has long been a source of contention between the two countries. While it codifies the U.S. embargo, Title III had been consistently waived by previous administrations to avoid international legal disputes—until the Trump administration chose to enforce it.

As the legal landscape evolves, more claimants are expected to step forward, potentially reshaping the commercial risks of doing business in Cuba for foreign and U.S.-based companies alike.

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