Judge finalizes $345-million judgment against Greenpeace in Dakota Access Pipeline case
A North Dakota judge has finalized a $345 million judgment against Greenpeace in litigation brought by Energy Transfer related to protests during construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), The Guardian reported.
The ruling follows a jury verdict issued earlier this year that initially awarded approximately $667 million in damages to Energy Transfer. Judge James Gion reduced that amount by nearly half in an October decision, and the revised $345 million judgment has now been formally entered. The jury found Greenpeace liable on claims that included defamation, trespassing and conspiracy tied to protest activity during pipeline construction.
Energy Transfer, the Texas-based operator of the Dakota Access Pipeline, said the decision marks a step toward holding the environmental group accountable for actions it alleges disrupted construction and harmed the company. Greenpeace said it intends to seek a new trial and, if necessary, appeal the ruling to the North Dakota Supreme Court.
The Dakota Access Pipeline, completed in 2017, transports a significant portion of crude oil produced in North Dakota’s Bakken region. The project drew widespread protests during construction, particularly near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, and has remained the subject of ongoing legal and regulatory challenges since entering service, according to The Guardian.
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