Greenpeace Ordered to Pay $660 Million Over Dakota Access Pipeline Protests

A North Dakota jury found Greenpeace liable for defamation and other claims, raising concerns about free speech and the future of environmental advocacy.

The jury awarded Energy Transfer $660 million in damages, holding Greenpeace liable for defamation, trespass, nuisance, and civil conspiracy.
Greenpeace plans to appeal the verdict, arguing the case threatens First Amendment rights to peaceful protest and free speech.
The lawsuit stems from Greenpeace's alleged role in the 2016-2017 Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, which Indigenous groups and environmental activists opposed.
Critics have labeled the case a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), designed to intimidate dissenting voices and advocacy groups.
The damages place Greenpeace's U.S. operations at risk of bankruptcy, while the organization has also filed a counter-lawsuit in the Netherlands under anti-SLAPP protections.