Bismarck, ND – A North Dakota judge has ordered Greenpeace to pay $345 million in damages, reducing an earlier jury verdict after finding the environmental group and related entities liable for defamation and other claims in connection with oil pipeline protests nearly a decade ago.
The new amount represents nearly half of the $667 million the jury previously awarded to the pipeline company that filed the claims, Dallas-based Energy Transfer and its subsidiary Dakota Access.
Greenpeace asked State District Judge James Jeon to rule in its favor on various claims before recalculating damages. In granting some requests, the judge did not cite any evidence for review or double damages; In the denial of others, he found reasonable evidence for the jury’s conclusion.
Energy Transfer said it intends to appeal “because we firmly believe that the jury’s original findings and damages awards for conspiracy and defamation are legal and fair.”
For its part, Greenpeace intends to seek a new trial and will appeal if it is denied, saying: “We continue to believe that the remaining claims are legally meritless.” The group said the lawsuit aims to suppress freedom of expression and protest rights.
The lawsuit stems from The protests have been going on for nearly a decade Against the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline Her crossing Missouri River near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation. The case will move to the North Dakota Supreme Court.
In March, a nine-person jury found Greenpeace International, based in the Netherlands, Greenpeace USA and its financing arm Greenpeace Fund Inc. Liable for defamation and other claims brought by Energy Transfer.
The jury found Greenpeace USA liable on all counts, including conspiracy, trespassing, nuisance and tortious interference with business relations. The other two entities were found liable for some of the total claims.
The total damages amounted to $666.9 million, divided in different amounts between the three Greenpeace organizations, which had previously planned to appeal.
The pipeline company accused Greenpeace Implementation of a scheme to stop the pipeline. Greenpeace lawyers said there was no evidence to support the pipeline company’s claims.
Since the ruling, lawyers for the Greenpeace entities have asked the judge to reduce the damages and overturn the ruling in their favor. Energy Transfer asked the judge to enter the verdict found by the jury.
The lawsuit was Submitted in 2019 and He went to trial earlier this year In the state area Courthouse in Mandan, North Dakota.
In September, a judge rejected a request from the pipeline company to bar Greenpeace International from continuing to operate An anti-intimidation lawsuit filed in the Netherlands.