Overview
- North Dakota Judge James Gion reduced the March jury award from about $666.9 million to roughly $345 million, citing legal limits, duplicative findings and unsupported categories.
- He trimmed defamation damages from roughly $250 million to about $50 million and ruled punitive damages could not be assessed for defamation.
- He eliminated some awards tied to alleged trespass on Energy Transfer land and property seizure claims, while leaving about $149 million for on‑the‑ground harms including nuisance and other interference with operations.
- The order allows $3.5 million for civil conspiracy and about $143 million for tortious interference with business relations.
- Energy Transfer says it will ask the North Dakota Supreme Court to reverse parts of the reduction, and Greenpeace plans to seek a new trial after final judgment and to appeal if necessary.