Greenpeace Appeals $660 Million Verdict in Dakota Access Pipeline Case

The unprecedented ruling against Greenpeace raises concerns about free speech, protest rights, and corporate influence, as the group countersues in the EU under anti-SLAPP laws.

• A North Dakota jury awarded Energy Transfer $660 million in damages, holding Greenpeace liable for defamation and conspiracy over its involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
• Greenpeace plans to appeal the verdict to the North Dakota Supreme Court, citing jury bias due to local ties to the protests, and may challenge the case further in federal courts.
• Legal experts warn the ruling could deter environmental activism nationwide, as it sets a precedent for corporate lawsuits against protest groups.
• Greenpeace International has filed a countersuit in the Netherlands under the EU’s anti-SLAPP directive, aiming to recover costs and challenge corporate legal tactics.
• The case underscores tensions between corporate interests, environmental activism, and Indigenous rights, with broader implications for free speech and protest protections.

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