A North Dakota jury has awarded damages totaling more than $660 million to Energy Transfer, a Texas-based pipeline company. The company had sued Greenpeace over its role in protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline nearly a decade ago.
The verdict is a major blow to the environmental organization. Greenpeace had said that Energy Transfer's claimed damages, in the range of $300 million, would be enough to put the group out of business in the United States. The jury awarded far more than that.
Greenpeace said it would appeal. The group has maintained that it played only a minor part in demonstrations led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. It has portrayed the lawsuit as an attempt to stifle oil-industry critics.
The nine-person jury in the Morton County courthouse in Mandan, N.D., about 45 minutes north of where the protests took place, returned the verdict after roughly two days of deliberations.
6 Comments
Rolihlahla
$660 million?! This is a blatant attempt to silence environmental activism and intimidate anyone who dares to speak out against powerful corporations.
G P Floyd Jr
Greenpeace will appeal, and hopefully, justice will prevail. But this case sets a dangerous precedent for environmental activism in the US.
Martin L King
This is a victory for corporate greed, not justice. Big oil will stop at nothing to silence its critics.
G P Floyd Jr
Finally, justice has been served. Now, Energy Transfer can build the Dakota Access Pipeline and deliver much-needed energy resources.
Comandante
The jury was likely swayed by the oil industry's deep pockets and political influence. This is a miscarriage of justice.
Sammmm
This is an outrageous attack on free speech and the right to protest! Greenpeace simply exercised its right to oppose a harmful project, and now they are being punished for it.