Greenpeace is facing trial in North Dakota, where a lawsuit by Energy Transfer could potentially bankrupt the environmental organization. The lawsuit, filed in 2017, stems from protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Greenpeace argues that the legal action is an attempt to suppress free speech and set a precedent for future protests, while Energy Transfer claims the group violated the law. The trial is expected to last for five weeks in a state court in North Dakota, where observers believe that the conservative leanings of the jury might not favor Greenpeace. The lawsuit’s potential damages of $300 million could have a crippling effect on the group’s finances. The lawsuit against Greenpeace is not limited to the organization alone; two associated entities, the Greenpeace Fund and Greenpeace International, are also named as defendants. Energy Transfer originally filed a similar complaint in federal court, alleging violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, but the complaint was dismissed by a judge. The state court version of the lawsuit includes accusations of trespass, defamation, conspiracy, and tortious interference with business. Greenpeace contends that they played a supporting role in the protests, which were mostly led by Native Americans, and that the lawsuit is a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) designed to silence them. The case could have implications for the freedom of speech and the right to protest in the United States.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/climate/greenpeace-energy-transfer-dakota-access-lawsuit.html