Puerto Rico Tourism Company v. Priceline.com, Incorporated

  1. September 21, 2015

    Puerto Rico Tourism Co. Settles Tax Dispute With Travel Sites

    Puerto Rico's government-owned tourism company on Monday settled in federal court a contentious dispute over back-due hotel taxes with a group of online travel companies including Expedia Inc., Priceline.com Inc. and Orbitz LLC, on the day it was set to go to trial.

  2. September 16, 2015

    Travel Sites Get Fines Dispute Removed From Hotel Tax Trial

    A Puerto Rico federal judge on Tuesday denied efforts by Expedia Inc. and other online travel companies to evade a demand for administrative fines and penalties from the island territory's tourism company, but he granted their uncontested bid to separate the issue from an upcoming jury trial over allegedly unpaid hotel taxes.

  3. September 14, 2015

    Proposed Mediator In Hotel Tax Case Gets Judge's Backing

    A Puerto Rico federal judge on Monday declined a government-backed tourism company's request to help settle a dispute over allegedly unpaid hotel taxes owed by numerous online travel companies before a scheduled trial date, calling instead on a former Maine state judge to umpire the discussions.

  4. August 31, 2015

    Travel Sites Could Face Taxes Over Biz Model, Judge Says

    A Puerto Rico federal judge said Monday that online travel companies operating in the commonwealth could arguably be subject to certain hotel taxes, pointing to evidence from a government-backed tourism company that the sites exercise "complete control" over the financial aspects of the transaction.

  5. August 27, 2015

    Travel Sites Can Dispute Biz Model In Puerto Rico Tax Row

    A Puerto Rico federal judge ruled Thursday that the island's government-owned tourism company can't stop Expedia Inc. and other online travel companies from presenting arguments about their "merchant model" in a trial over hotel taxes, finding prior court decisions left room for factual disputes under Puerto Rican law.

  6. August 26, 2015

    Expedia's Puerto Rico Tax Dispute Headed For Jury Trial

    A Puerto Rican district judge told Expedia Inc. and other online travel sites Wednesday that they couldn't avoid a jury trial in a row over hotel taxes with the island territory's tourism company, saying that there was reason to believe the sites are required to pay the taxes.

  7. August 18, 2015

    Travel Sites Shouldn't Echo Issues In Tax Row: Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico's government-owned tourism company urged a federal judge Monday to bar Expedia Inc. and other online travel companies from introducing arguments about their business model at a trial alleging they underpaid hotel room taxes, saying the issues have already been resolved in state courts across the country.

  8. August 17, 2015

    Travel Sites, Puerto Rico Lash Out Over Exhibits In Tax Case

    A group of online travel companies and Puerto Rico's government-owned tourism company accused each other of wasting the court's time in federal litigation over back-due hotel taxes, with each side blaming the other for bloated exhibit and witness lists ahead of trial.

  9. August 14, 2015

    Travel Sites Gaming Court In Tax Case, Puerto Rico Says

    Puerto Rico's government-owned tourism company told a Puerto Rico federal judge on Thursday that the online travel companies at the center of its suit demanding back-due hotel taxes are delaying the trial and misrepresenting the scope of damages the company seeks.

  10. August 10, 2015

    Expedia Fights Jury Demand In Puerto Rico Hotel Tax Feud

    Puerto Rico's government-owned tourism company shouldn't be granted a jury trial in its lawsuit demanding back-due hotel taxes from online travel websites, Expedia Inc. and other defendants told a federal judge on Friday, saying the case hinges on a strictly legal question.