Greenpeace Ordered to Pay $660 Million in Defamation Case

A North Dakota jury has ordered Greenpeace to pay over $660 million in damages to Energy Transfer, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, finding the environmental group liable for defamation and other claims related to protests against the pipeline. Energy Transfer accused Greenpeace of orchestrating unlawful protests and spreading misinformation about the pipeline, which sparked significant public outcry and activism in 2016. Greenpeace contends that it played a minor role in the protests and argues that the ruling poses a serious threat to free speech and the rights to peaceful protest. In response to the verdict, Greenpeace has announced plans to appeal, while Energy Transfer asserts the ruling is a victory for lawful protest. The case has implications for the legal accountability of organizations involved in protests, raising concerns about potential chilling effects on activism. The jury's decision is noted to be among the largest awards in a defamation case involving environmental activism.