Environmental group Greenpeace to pay $660M for defaming oil firm
What's the story
Global environmental organization Greenpeace has been ordered by a North Dakota jury to pay more than $660 million in damages to Texas-based Energy Transfer.
This comes in light of Greenpeace's involvement in one of the largest anti-fossil fuel protests "Water is Life" in the US history.
The case concerned demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline almost a decade ago, when Energy Transfer accused Greenpeace of defamation, trespass, nuisance, and civil conspiracy.
Legal battle
Accusations and counterarguments
Energy Transfer filed a lawsuit in state court alleging that Greenpeace had masterminded an "unlawful and violent scheme to cause financial harm to Energy Transfer."
However, Greenpeace vowed to appeal the verdict. The organization claims it could face bankruptcy from this case, and potentially end its 50-year legacy of environmental activism.
Greenpeace said it did not lead protests against Dakota Access Pipeline near Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, but was just supporting local indigenous leaders.
Damage assessment
Energy Transfer's lawyer estimates damages
At the trial in Mandan, North Dakota, Energy Transfer lawyer Trey Cox estimated damages of $265-$340 million caused by Greenpeace's actions. He asked the jury to give that amount and more.
Protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline started in April 2016 and ended in February 2017 when law enforcement removed demonstrators.
Despite continued local tribal opposition and calls for an extensive environmental review, the pipeline has been functional since 2017.
Counteraction
Greenpeace's response to the verdict
Responding to the jury's verdict, Kristin Casper, General Counsel of Greenpeace International said, "Energy Transfer hasn't heard the last of us in this fight. We will not back down, we will not be silenced."
On the contrary, law professor Carl Tobias of University of Richmond in Virginia said "the verdict's magnitude will have a chilling effect on environmental and other public interest litigation."
However, he speculated it might inspire similar lawsuits in other states.