By Merve Berker
A US jury has ordered Greenpeace to pay more than $660 million in damages to Energy Transfer, the Texas-based company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, press reports said on Wednesday.
The ruling, delivered by a nine-person jury in the state of North Dakota, found Greenpeace liable for actions taken nearly a decade ago to prevent the construction of the pipeline, according to CNBC.
The verdict, reached after two days of deliberations, marks a major legal setback for the environmental group, which has warned that the case could force it into bankruptcy.
Greenpeace condemned the decision, calling it a threat to free speech and activism.
“This case should alarm everyone, no matter their political inclinations,” said Sushma Raman, interim executive director of Greenpeace US.
“It’s part of a renewed push by corporations to weaponize our courts to silence dissent,” she added.
The organization labeled the lawsuit as an example of SLAPPs, an acronym for strategic lawsuits against public participation, referring to cases allegedly designed to burden activists with legal fees and suppress opposition.
Energy Transfer described the ruling as a win for Americans who respect the law.
The company stated that Greenpeace-backed protesters caused harassment and disruptions for local communities in North Dakota during demonstrations.
Greenpeace has announced its intention to appeal the decision.