In an issue of first impression in the United States
courts of appeals, the Eleventh Circuit ruled that an EU company is
not automatically shielded from defending against a Helms-Burton
Act lawsuit due to the EU's Blocking Statute.
In January 2020, Maria Marti sued Iberostar, a Spanish hotel
company, under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act ("HBA"),
22 U.S.C. § 6021 et seq, in the Southern
District of Florida. Marti v. Iberostar Hoteles y
Apartamentos S.L., No. 21-11906, 2022 WL 17090059 (11th Cir.
Nov. 21, 2022). Marti alleged that Iberostar contracted with the
Cuban government to operate a hotel that her father previously
owned prior to its confiscation by the Castro government.