Thursday, January 6, 2000
Elena Laura Pessino Gomez del Campo Bacardi v. Elena Gomez del Campo Bacardi de Lindzon

No. 95,348

Place of Origin
Dade County
Connections to Cuba, Spain, Liechtenstein, and the Cayman Islands

Facts
Elena Laura, a citizen of Spain, is a beneficiary of trust funds established by her grandmother in and under the law of two foreign nations, the Cayman Islands and Liechtenstein. At the time the trusts were established the grandmother was a Cuban citizen living in Spain. Elena Laura filed suit in Dade County on charges related to alleged misuse of trust funds. The Dade County trial court dismissed on grounds Florida courts were not the proper forum for the issues at stake. The Third District Court affirmed but certified the question to the Supreme Court.