Judge keeps $345 million Dakota Access Pipeline verdict against Greenpeace

Energy Transfer secured a procedural win on Monday, Nov. 2, after a North Dakota judge denied Greenpeace's motion for a new trial. The ruling preserves a $345 million judgment entered against the environmental organization in a dispute over the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The case stems from anti-pipeline protests in 2016 and 2017. In early 2025, a jury in Morton County found Greenpeace liable for inciting illegal acts and publishing false statements that damaged the company's reputation. The jury initially awarded Energy Transfer approximately $667 million. Judge James Gion later reduced that figure to $345 million.

Greenpeace argued the original proceedings were unfair. Attorneys claimed the jury pool was biased in favor of the energy company, citing the local economy's dependence on the industry and negative public memory of the protests. They also alleged that the court allowed inaccurate evidence and issued flawed jury instructions. The group proposed a new venue in Cass County to avoid these local influences.

Gion found Greenpeace's arguments unpersuasive. He noted that every juror swore an oath to remain impartial. The judge also expressed concern that a second trial in Fargo would burden the Cass County court system, potentially causing years of delays for other cases. He wrote that legal errors claimed during the trial should be addressed during the appeal process.

Energy Transfer defended the verdict in a statement released Monday. The company said the order confirmed the unanimous finding that Greenpeace is responsible for the harm it caused. The lawsuit targets three entities: Greenpeace USA, Greenpeace International, and Greenpeace Fund.

The original trial lasted more than three weeks and included testimony from dozens of witnesses. These included current and former Greenpeace staff, Indigenous activists, Energy Transfer representatives, and law enforcement officers. Greenpeace International announced Monday that it will now appeal the judgment to the North Dakota Supreme Court.

A related international legal battle is underway. Greenpeace International filed a lawsuit in the Netherlands accusing Energy Transfer of weaponizing the U.S. legal system. Following a May decision by the state Supreme Court, Gion ordered Greenpeace International in August to withdraw claims arguing the North Dakota case lacks a legal foundation. The order also bars the group from seeking financial compensation to offset the Morton County verdict.