Supreme Court Allows Cruise Lines to Face Lawsuits Over Havana Port Use

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that four major cruise lines can be held financially liable for using a port in Havana, Cuba, that was confiscated by the Cuban government in 1960. In an 8-1 decision, the justices said federal law allows Havana Docks Corporation to sue the companies for hundreds of millions of dollars over their use of the port for tourism between 2016 and 2019.

The companies are Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and MSC.

The ruling interprets the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996, a law passed after Cuban fighter jets shot down two unarmed planes operated by Brothers to the Rescue. The law aims to deter use of property seized by the Cuban government during the revolution. U.S. nationals who hold claims to it. He said the cruise lines' use of the docks was enough to establish liability.

Kagan dissented, concluding that Havana Docks did not have a right to the piers because their original agreement with the Cuban government would have expired in 2004. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, issued a concurring opinion.

She said it is unlikely Congress intended for someone who suffered a finite loss to reap infinite recoveries. U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision. The Supreme Court rejected the appeals court's conclusion. The Supreme Court is still considering a separate case, Exxon Mobil v.

Corporacion Cimex, about property interests in Cuba. A decision in that case is expected in the coming weeks.