Supreme Court revives damages suit against cruise ship companies that docked in Cuba
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 to allow a lawsuit against major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Carnival, alleging they trafficked in property confiscated by the Cuban government when docking in Havana.
- The case involves docks built by Havana Docks Corporation in 1905, seized by Castro’s government in 1960, with Havana Docks claiming the cruise lines used the confiscated property without authorization from 2015 to 2019.
- Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion permitting the litigation to proceed, while Justice Elena Kagan dissented, arguing the property interest expired in 2004 and the docks belonged to the Cuban government.
- The decision comes amid heightened US tensions with Cuba, including a recent indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and potential changes to the Cuban embargo announced by the Trump administration.
- The lawsuit centers on whether Havana Docks can collect damages despite its lease expiring in 2004, with lower courts previously siding with the cruise lines before the case reached the Supreme Court.