Overview
- The justices heard back‑to‑back arguments on Feb. 23 in Exxon Mobil v. Corporación CIMEX and Havana Docks v. cruise operators Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian and MSC.
- Several justices pressed Havana Docks on the breadth of its leasehold rights and the risk of outsized or perpetual damages tied to use of Havana port facilities seized in 1960.
- In Exxon’s case, questioning centered on whether Helms‑Burton supplies its own waiver of immunity or if plaintiffs must still satisfy the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s exceptions.
- Exxon seeks more than $1 billion for oil and gas assets confiscated in 1960 and is supported in court by the Trump administration, while a lower court previously found the cruise lines liable for about $440 million.
- Decisions are expected by July, and a ruling for Exxon could enable additional suits over seized Cuban property, whereas affirming FSIA defenses would constrain Title III litigation.