At the end of December, ein US court several shipping companies whose cruise ships have docked in Cuban ports, for the “trade in confiscated property” fined over $400 million. The defendants are now appealing this.
Carnival Corp (CCL.N) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL.N) announced past. Week (3) announced they will be appealing a US court ruling that ordered them and two other cruise lines to pay $110 million each in damages for using a port confiscated by the Cuban government in 1960.
US District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami decided at the end of December, the plaintiff, of Havana Docks Corp. incorporated in Delaware. and two US citizens who claim to be descendants of the original owners of the Havana Cruise Port Terminal for a total of $440 million.
This happened, after Bloom ruled in Marchthat the use of the port constituted a trade in confiscated Havana Docks Corp. property. represents. The ruling was a milestone for Cuban-Americans seeking redress for confiscation of Cold War-era assets.
“The plaintiff is awarded $109,671,180.90 in damages,” the judgment against Carnival said, while the judgments against Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and MSC awarded the plaintiff $109,848,747.87 from each company.
Royal Caribbean said in a statement to the REUTERS news agency that it disagreed with the verdict and would appeal. Carnival also said they disagree with the verdict and will appeal and have made “lawful travel.”
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH.N) declined to comment and MSC Cruises did not respond to a request for comment.
Havana Docks sued the cruise lines under the Helms-Burton Act, which allows US citizens to sue against the use of property confiscated in Cuba after 1959.
“This is a very important decision by Judge Bloom. Commercial exploitation of confiscated property in Cuba in violation of US law has well-defined and well-known legal ramifications,” said Roberto Martinez, attorney for Havana Docks.
“The undisputed facts show that the cruise lines raked in more than $1.2 billion in revenue from their cruises using the confiscated terminal – and paid nothing to Havana Docks Corp or the Cuban people,” he added.
The verdicts could prompt more lawsuits from Cuban exiles, who are making $2 billion claims over asset confiscations under the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro.