North Dakota Jury Decides Greenpeace Defamation Case Against Energy Transfer

A North Dakota jury is deliberating in a high-stakes lawsuit where Energy Transfer alleges Greenpeace engaged in defamation and other disruptive tactics against the Dakota Access Pipeline project. The case, which stems from protests in 2016 and 2017 led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, accuses Greenpeace of orchestrating a campaign to halt the pipeline by allegedly financing protests and spreading misinformation. The plaintiffs are seeking hundreds of millions in damages, with claims totaling nearly $350 million highlighted during the trial. Greenpeace has denied these allegations, asserting that the lawsuit threatens free speech and protest rights. The outcome is seen as a critical moment for environmental activism and could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future. As the jury deliberates, concerns grow over the potential chilling effect a verdict against Greenpeace could have on activist movements.