KFYR – UPDATE (3/19/2025 at 6:40 p.m.): Jurors reached a unanimous decision in the Energy Transfer and Greenpeace civil lawsuit over the 2016 Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

After two and a half days of deliberation, jurors unanimously found Greenpeace and its counterparts liable for damages against Energy Transfer in a historic North Dakota lawsuit.

Greenpeace was ordered to pay Energy Transfer and Dakota Access nearly $700 million in damages. Greenpeace was found liable for damages caused by trespassing onto Energy Transfer and Dakota Access’ land, and for defaming them, creating a nuisance, conspiring against them, committing tortious interference and more.

“This verdict serves as a powerful affirmation of the First Amendment. Peaceful protest is an inherent American right; however, violent and destructive protest is unlawful and unacceptable. This verdict clearly conveys that,” said Trey Cox, the lead attorney of Energy Transfer’s trial counsel.

However, Greenpeace’s law team says they’re not done just yet.

“Greenpeace International is just getting started. With our anti-slap lawsuit against Energy Transfer in the Netherlands, we will see Energy Transfer in court this July in Amsterdam. We will not back down. We will not be silenced,” said Kristin Casper, an attorney in Greenpeace’s trial counsel.

The court ruled that Greenpeace won’t have to pay interest on those damages.

It should be noted that the media wasn’t allowed to record any of the court proceedings. If you want to see a transcription of the court record, you’ll likely need to pay the third-party transcriber for a copy. Otherwise, you’d have to review whatever handwritten notes members of the public took.

ORIGINAL STORY (3/19/2025 at 2:35 p.m.): A jury unanimously found that Greenpeace and its related parties are liable for damages stemming from protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Jurors deliberated for two and a half days before delivering a verdict Wednesday afternoon.

Greenpeace will need to pay millions in fines as a part of the verdict.

This is a developing story.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., released the following statement following the verdict:

“This is what justice looks like in America. This is what happens when common sense prevails. I’m grateful to Energy Transfer for initiating the lawsuit, and for not just walking away, which it certainly could have done.

“Thank you on behalf of American energy security, on behalf of the company and its shareholders. And most importantly, on behalf of the people of North Dakota, especially the folks of western North Dakota, who live every single day with the knowledge that they’re providing a lot of energy for a growing economy in a great country. It has everything to do with their local pride.

“Today, justice has been done with Greenpeace and its radical environmentalist buddies who encouraged this destructive behavior during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests with their defamatory and false claims about the pipeline. They can think twice now about doing it again.

“Congratulations to Energy Transfer on the big victory. Thank you for your investment in North Dakota, in American excellence, and in this important fight.”

MANDAN, N.D. (KFYR) – UPDATE (3/20/2025 at 7:29 a.m.): Senator John Hoeven released the following statement Wednesday following the verdict:

“The Dakota Access Pipeline was built with the latest, greatest technology and safety features, and the company went through all of the required regulatory and permitting steps. These facts are reaffirmed by today’s decision in court. This pipeline is important not only to North Dakota’s success as a global energy powerhouse, but our nation’s energy security. We will continue working to provide regulatory certainty for this and energy projects across the country, taking the handcuffs off our energy producers to make the U.S. truly energy dominant.”

Continuing coverage of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests trial