A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, World's Largest Container Shipping Company Is Third To Be Defendant In Libertad Act Lawsuit; Joining Crowley & Seaboard
/Copenhagen, Denmark-based A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S (2019 revenues approximately US$42 billion) is the world’s largest container shipping company.
ODETTE BLANCO DE FERNANDEZ née BLANCO ROSELL; EMMA RUTH BLANCO, in her personal capacity, and as Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF ALFREDO BLANCO ROSELL, JR; HEBE BLANCO MIYARES, in her personal capacity, and as Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF BYRON BLANCO ROSELL; SERGIO BLANCO DE LA TORRE, in his personal capacity, and as Administrator Ad Litem of the ESTATE OF ENRIQUE BLANCO ROSELL; EDUARDO BLANCO DE LA TORRE, as Administrator Ad Litem of the ESTATE OF FLORENTINO BLANCO ROSELL; LIANA MARIA BLANCO; SUSANNAH VALENTINA BLANCO; LYDIA BLANCO BONAFONTE; JACQUELINE M. DELGADO; BYRON DIAZ BLANCO, JR.; MAGDELENA BLANCO MONTOTO; FLORENTINO BLANCO DE LA TORRE; JOSEPH E. BUSHMAN; CARLOS BLANCO DE LA TORRE; and GUILLERMO BLANCO DE LA TORRE VERSUS A.P. MOLLER-MAERSK A/S (a/k/a A.P. MOLLER-MAERSK GROUP); MAERSK A/S (a/k/a MAERSK LINE A/S); MAERSK, INC.; and MAERSK AGENCY U.S.A., INC [2:21-cv-00339 Eastern District of Louisiana]
Pusateri, Johnston, Guillot & Greenbaum, LLC (plaintiff)
Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP (plaintiff)
Fields PLLC (plaintiff)
LINK To Libertad Act Lawsuit Statistics
Excerpts:
“As discussed more fully below, Defendant Maersk’s website touts that, since 2016, Maersk has been providing direct shipping services from Europe and Asia to Cuba, and specifically to the Port of Mariel, Cuba:
In 2016, Maersk’s operation in Cuba broke all records, seeing its vessels carry 23,094 FFE to the ports in Mariel and Santiago. Volumes came from Asia primarily but also, increasingly, from Europe via a direct service which was launched the same year.
Defendant Maersk, together with its subsidiaries and agents, also has provided direct service from the Port of New Orleans to the Port of Mariel. As discussed more fully below, infra ¶¶ 108 - 110, according to the International Maritime Organization (“IMO”), a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping, the ship A/S PETRA (IMO # 9283708), while operated by Defendant Maersk A/S, sailed from the Port of New Orleans on four occasions in 2020 and called at the Port of Mariel, Cuba on January 20, 2020, January 31, 2020, May 20, 2020, and August 12, 2020, respectively. At each of the aforementioned callings at the Port of Mariel, the A/S PETRA engaged in commercial activities with the Port of Mariel and the Zona Especial de Desarollo Mariel (“ZEDM”) (a/k/a Mariel Special Economic Zone).
Upon information and belief, related to the A/S PETRA’s aforementioned trafficking voyages from the Port of New Orleans to the Port of Mariel, Defendant Maersk Agency provided, inter alia, inland service, and other logistical support, including purchasing transportation services related to those voyages.
35. The A/S PETRA was knowingly and intentionally directed by Defendants to the Port of Mariel, where the A/S PETRA for itself and on behalf of and/or at the direction of Defendants, engaged in commercial activities using or otherwise benefiting from the Confiscated Property, the claims to which are owned by Plaintiffs and without the authorization of Plaintiffs, which constitutes trafficking as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 6023(13)(A)(ii). Infra ¶ 109.”
Other Lawsuits Filed By Same Plaintiffs:
ODETTE BLANCO DE FERNANDEZ née BLANCO ROSELL, Plaintiff, v. CROWLEY MARITIME CORPORATION, Defendant. [3:20-cv-01426 Middle District Florida; Transferred To Florida Southern District 1:21-cv-20443]
Murphy & Anderson, P.A. (plaintiff)
Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP (plaintiff)
Fields PLLC (plaintiff)
Law Offices of John S. Gaebe P.A. (plaintiff)
Venable LLP (defendant)
ODETTE BLANCO DE FERNANDEZ née BLANCO ROSELL, Plaintiff, v. SEABOARD MARINE, LTD., Defendant. [1:20-cv-25176; Southern Florida District]
Horr, Novak & Skipp, P.A. (plaintiff)
Law Offices of John S. Gaebe (plaintiff)
Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP (plaintiff)
Fields (plaintiff)
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (defendant)
