The Timeshare Beat Home | Today's Headlines | Back to Previous Page
|
The Timeshare Beat Home | Today's Headlines | Back to Previous Page |
|
|
|
Press Release: Crowell & Moring LLP
July 7, 2004
MIAMI, FL -- A 95 year-old woman whose family owned a portion of the Varadero beachfront in Cuba before the Communist
Revolution will file suit on Thursday, July 8, 2004, against the Paris-based Club Med resort chain for building
and operating a luxury hotel on land she says the Castro regime attempted to confiscate in the 1960s.
Elvira de la Vega Glen fled Cuba in the 1960s and became a U.S. citizen after coming to Miami. She and her son
Robert Glen filed suit in Miami federal court alleging that Club Med made millions of dollars by running the Club
Med Varadero resort from 1997 until last year, when it was sold to Grupo Pinero, a Spanish hotel firm. The 337-room
luxury resort was one of many destination hotels operated by Club Med as part of its $2 Billion per year world-wide
network, which includes the Club Med Sandpiper resort in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
The Glen's complaint alleges that Club Med was "unjustly enriched" in violation of Florida law by taking
advantage of valuable confiscated property to build the luxury hotel. It also alleges that Club Med violated the
federal "Trading with the Enemy Act," and U.S. Department of Treasury regulations applicable to firms
attempting to trade with the Cuban government, in violation of the economic embargo. Club Med has previously been
notified by the U.S. Department of State that it was being investigated for violations of U.S. law for operating
the Varadero resort.
"My family could not believe that a respected company like Club Med would get so deeply involved with the
Castro regime just to make money off of our land. I was especially mad because Club Med spends so much energy trying
to get my friends and neighbors to come to their resorts, both in Florida and the Caribbean. They just can not
have it both ways -- either do business with Castro or with the United States, but not both!"
The Glens are represented by the Washington, D.C. law firm of Crowell & Moring LLP, which is known for its
success in winning court suits and obtaining legislation from Congress on behalf of Americans who have been victims
of state-sponsored terrorism.
Local counsel is the Miami-based firm of Podhurst Orseck, which represented the families of the Americans shot
down and killed by the Cuban Air Force as part of the "Brothers to the Rescue" case.
A press conference will be held at on Thursday, July 8th 11:00 a.m. (EST), at the United States Courthouse Miami,
Tower Building, 301 N. Miami Avenue, front steps.
Attendees at the Press Conference will include:
Stuart Newberger, Lead Counsel
Michael Olin, Miami Counsel
Elvira de la Vega Glen, Plaintiff
Robert M. Glen, Plaintiff
The press conference agenda will consists of a 20-30 minute speech, which will address the entire suit, along with
a question and answer segment directed to both plaintiff attorneys. No interviews will be allowed with Elvira de
la Vega Glen, or Robert Glen during the press conference. Spanish interpretation will be provided.
Copies of the Full Complaint will be available at the Press Conference on July 8, 2004.
Source: Crowell & Moring LLP