Greenpeace ordered to pay $660 million in pipeline lawsuit, appeal likely

• A North Dakota court ordered Greenpeace to pay $660 million in damages to Energy Transfer and its subsidiary, Dakota Access. The lawsuit focused on allegations of defamation, conspiracy, and unlawful actions during the 2016 Standing Rock protests.

• Greenpeace defended its actions as protected under the First Amendment and criticized the charges as baseless, stating that the ruling could bankrupt its U.S.-based operations.
• Greenpeace announced its intention to appeal the judgment, asserting confidence in its legal defense and support for its role in the Standing Rock protests.

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A jury says multiple organizations under the Greenpeace banner need to pay the company responsible for laying the Dakota Access Pipeline hundreds of millions of dollars in damages stemming from a prolonged protest. The environmentalists say a final judgment would likely bankrupt the organization.

The North Dakota court ruled in favor of Dallas-based Energy Transfer and its subsidiary, Dakota Access, on Wednesday, March 19. The company alleged that Greenpeace masterminded the 2016 demonstrations at the Standing Rock Reservation opposing the project. The protests drew thousands of people critical of what they said was an invasion of sacred land. They claimed the pipeline would also put local water supplies at risk.

The lawsuit accused the environmental group of defamation, conspiracy and other unlawful actions that it claims harmed its business during the pipeline’s development. The $7 billion company said Greenpeace conducted a misinformation campaign to incite violent protests in 2016 and 2017. 

The company originally filed a federal lawsuit against Greenpeace, but a judge dismissed those charges.

Greenpeace cites its First Amendment right

Representatives for Greenpeace told Straight Arrow News that the charges were “frankly ridiculous” but said that the company presented an “aggressive argument.” The organization’s defense centered around its free speech rights under the First Amendment.

Greenpeace had previously said that a judgment of $300 million against it would likely bankrupt the organization’s U.S.-based operations. The $660 million judgment handed down Wednesday against Greenpeace is more than 20 times its annual budget.

The environmental organization told reporters outside of the courthouse that it would appeal the ruling. 

“We absolutely believe in our legal defense,” Greenpeace said in a statement. “We believe the law is fully on our side. We believe in what we did at Standing Rock and that, ultimately, we will prevail against this meritless lawsuit.”