Greenpeace’s Legal Battle Against Energy Transfer

Greenpeace International is involved in a legal dispute with Energy Transfer, a U.S. pipeline company. The conflict centers on accusations related to protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota a decade ago.

On Wednesday, a Dutch court allowed Greenpeace International to proceed with a countersuit against Energy Transfer. The environmental group claims the American company used a lengthy legal battle to intimidate it. They are using Dutch laws to challenge what they view as an unfair lawsuit.

Based in Amsterdam, Greenpeace International is one of three Greenpeace entities that Energy Transfer sued. The American company initially brought a case in U.S. federal court, accusing Greenpeace of racketeering. That lawsuit was dismissed. Energy Transfer later sued in a North Dakota state court. The company won a significant verdict amounting to $345 million after a three-week trial last year.

Greenpeace International maintains that its sole involvement was signing a letter to financiers regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline project. Despite this, they were held liable for about $64 million for conspiracy, defamation, and interference. The other Greenpeace entities, based in the U.S., admitted to supporting peaceful protests. The jury found them responsible for a larger share of the claims, which involved physical actions during protests.

Greenpeace International’s countersuit in the Netherlands relies on Dutch laws against SLAPP cases. These laws aim to protect media and activists from legal tactics intended to suppress opposition through expensive court battles. Although various U.S. states have similar anti-SLAPP laws, North Dakota does not.