Judge Denies Interamerican Consulting Inc.'s Motion to Dismiss PDV USA's Lawsuit Seeking More Than $15 Million in Damages
HOUSTON - June 24, 2021 - PDV Holding, Inc. announced today that U.S. District Court Judge John G. Koeltl has denied Interamerican Consulting Inc.'s motion to dismiss the lawsuit that PDV USA, Inc. brought against it for breaching a consulting agreement and other misconduct. The judge's ruling allows the lawsuit to move forward.
In 2017, when PDV USA, Inc. was still under the control of directors appointed by the Maduro regime, it entered into a $50 million, three-month, reputation-building and lobbying consulting agreement with Interamerican, the company owned and controlled by former U.S. Congressman David Rivera. In May 2020, PDV USA sued Interamerican asserting claims for breach of contract, indemnity, unjust enrichment, and declaratory relief.
On December 18, 2020, Interamerican filed a motion seeking to dismiss the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim, as well as a motion seeking to strike critical allegations from the complaint.
On June 23, 2021, the court denied Interamerican's motions, finding them to be "without merit."
PDV USA will now continue to prosecute the case and begin discovery.