A North Dakota trial court granted in part and denied in part Greenpeace entities’ motions for judgment as a matter of law and to reduce damages awarded to the developers and owner of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The court’s decision on the motions reduced the damages of almost $667 million awarded by the jury to $345,358,436. The court disallowed the jury’s verdict as to the pipeline developers’ claims of trespass to land and aiding and abetting trespass to land, finding that there was no evidence that the developers possessed any interest in real estate. In addition, the court disallowed claims against both the developers and owner for conversion and aiding and abetting conversion, finding that there was no evidence showing that equipment was disabled for a significant period of time. The court also disallowed claims of defamation per se as duplicative of the defamation claim. The court denied the Greenpeace entities’ motion for judgment as a matter of law on the pipeline owner’s claims of trespass to land and aiding and abetting trespass to land, as well as all claims by all plaintiffs of trespass to chattel and aiding and abetting trespass to chattel, nuisance and aiding and abetting nuisance, conspiracy, defamation, and tortious interference with business claims. The court reduced damages for the conspiracy claims; limited exemplary damages for the developers on the trespass to chattels, aiding and abetting trespass to chattels, nuisance, and aiding and abetting nuisance claims; and disallowed all exemplary damages for the defamation claims. North Dakota Monitor <a href="https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/10/29/judge-slashes-jury-damages-in-greenpeace-case-to-345-million/">reported</a> that plaintiffs plan to appeal the reductions in the defamation and conspiracy damages and that the defendants intended to ask for a new trial after entry of final judgment and to appeal if that request is unsuccessful.

Lawsuit by the developers of the Dakota Access Pipeline seeking damages from organizations and individuals who protested the pipeline.

Energy Transfer LP v. Greenpeace International

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North Dakota Court Reduced Damages Against Greenpeace Entities in Dakota Access Pipeline Case

Filed

United States of America

North Dakota

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North Dakota Court Reduced Damages Against Greenpeace Entities in Dakota Access Pipeline Case

Risk

Impacted group

Fossil fuel

Economic sector

Finance