Greenpeace ordered to pay more than $660m for defaming oil firm

A North Dakota jury has found Greenpeace liable for defamation, and ordered the environmental group to pay more than $660m in damages to Texas-based pipeline company Energy Transfer for its role in one of the largest anti-fossil fuel protests in U.S. history. Energy Transfer also accused Greenpeace of trespass, nuisance and civil conspiracy over the demonstrations nearly a decade ago against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The lawsuit, filed in state court, argued that Greenpeace was behind an “unlawful and violent scheme to cause financial harm to Energy Transfer.” Greenpeace, which vowed to appeal, said last month it could be forced into bankruptcy because of the case, ending over 50 years of activism. Trey Cox of the firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, the lead lawyer for Energy Transfer, said during closing arguments that Greenpeace’s actions caused between $265m to $340m in damages. He asked the jury to award the company that amount, plus additional damages. Cox called the verdict “a powerful affirmation” of the First Amendment. “Peaceful protest is an inherent American right,” he said. “However, violent and destructive protest is unlawful and unacceptable.” In response to the verdict, Greenpeace International’s general counsel Kristin Casper said: “Energy Transfer hasn’t heard the last of us in this fight.”