• Submitted by: manso
• Politics and Government
• 11 / 24 / 2010

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MIAMI HERALD. November 23, 2010. A lawsuit by the former wife of a Cuban agent against South Florida companies that charter flights to Cuba will be heard by a federal court, not a state court,Miami radio commentator Francisco Aruca revealed Monday.

The case has been batted back and forth between state and federal courts since mid-February, when it was initiated. Ana  Margarita Martínez, who won a $27 million judgment against Cuba with a claim that Havana victimized her by ordering spy Juan Pablo Roque to marry her, issued writs of garnishment against funds that eight charter companies pay to Havana for landing rights and other fees.

Her legal team argued that the writs were an issue for a Florida court to decide. But lawyers for the charterers and the U.S. Government retorted that the case should be heard in federal court because it affects U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba.

They also argue that Martínez lacks the U.S. permit necessary to receive Cuban funds.Federal Judge Federico Moreno will now hear the case, Aruca said on radio,citing Ira Kurzban, the charterers' attorney. Date and venue were not immediately set.

Source: miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/ at Source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/119079