Case Summary:

On February 23, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in Havana Docks Corp. v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., a case that centers on the interpretation of the Helms-Burton Act and the liability of U.S. companies for using property confiscated by the Cuban government.

The legal battle began when Havana Docks Corporation, which held a 99-year lease (a usufructuary concession) to operate the Havana cruise pier until 2004, sued several cruise lines for "trafficking" in their stolen property by using those same docks between 2016 and 2019.

Core Legal Issues

The primary question before the Court is whether a plaintiff can maintain a claim under Title III of the LIBERTAD Act if their original legal interest in the property would have expi ...