U.S. Court Overturns Judgment Against Cruise Lines

The U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a $440 million judgment against four major cruise lines—Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and MSC Cruises—accused of 'trafficking' in property confiscated by the Cuban government after the 1959 revolution. The court ruled that the Havana Docks Corporation's concession for the piers had expired in 2004, meaning the cruise lines' activities from 2016 to 2019 did not constitute illegal trafficking under the Helms-Burton Act. This decision reversed a 2022 ruling by a Miami federal court that held the cruise lines liable for using the confiscated facilities without compensation to the original owners. The ruling reflects a significant legal interpretation of the Helms-Burton Act's Title III, which allows property owners to sue for benefits derived from their expropriated assets. The cruise lines expressed satisfaction with the appellate court's decision, while the dissenting judge argued that the property interest's expiration should not affect the claims under the law. This case highlights the complexities of legal claims tied to property confiscated during the Cuban revolution and the evolving U.S.-Cuba relations.