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Expedia is demanding a $2.75 million sanction against a Cuban-American family and its attorneys, accusing them of knowingly fabricating claims under the Helms-Burton Act to pursue property seized by Fidel Castro’s regime. The travel giant told a Delaware federal judge that the plaintiffs’ case was built on backdated documents and deliberate deception.

The bid follows a jury trial win for Expedia in July, when jurors unanimously found that the plaintiffs—Central Santa Lucia LC (CSL)—failed to prove they legitimately owned rights to the disputed property.

Alleged “Backdated” Assignments

According to Expedia, CSL fraudulently backdated documents to March 7, 1996, just five days before the Helms-Burton Act cut off new claims. Without the forged timeline, the family—descendants of Cuban landowners whose 102,300 acres were seized in 1960—had no standing to sue.

“The fact that the assignment documents were backdated is and always has been obvious on the face of the documents,” Expedia argued in its sanctions motion.

CSL’s lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleged Expedia profited by directing tourists to luxury hotels built on the seized coastal property.

Jury Rejects the Claim

After years of litigation, a Delaware jury ruled in August 2025 that CSL failed to show valid ownership. Judge Jennifer L. Hall entered judgment for Expedia, paving the way for post-trial sanctions.

Expedia accused Nick Gutierrez, the attorney who created CSL, of orchestrating the backdating scheme. The company said CSL’s lawyers doubled down despite metadata showing the documents were created in 2000.

Expedia’s Sanctions Demand

Expedia is asking the court to impose Rule 11 and Rule 37 sanctions, alongside penalties for vexatious litigation. Specifically, it seeks:

• $2.5 million in attorney fees

• $250,000 in expenses

• $22,500 in expert costs

Expedia argued that the plaintiffs’ persistence in pressing “a patently frivolous allegation” magnified their bad faith.

A Long Sanctions Battle

This marks Expedia’s third sanctions motion since the lawsuit began. Earlier attempts were denied or withdrawn as premature. But with the jury verdict in hand, the company insists the time for penalties has come.

Expedia alleges CSL’s counsel not only allowed false testimony but also obstructed discovery and misused privilege to hide damaging evidence.

Representation

• CSL is represented by Cross & Simon LLC, Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP, and Fields Han & Cunniff PLLC.

• Expedia is represented by Ballard Spahr LLP and Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP.

Neither side immediately responded to requests for comment.