Judge cuts Greenpeace damages in Dakota Access case to $345 million

A North Dakota judge has reduced a $660 million jury award against Greenpeace to about $345 million in a civil case brought by Energy Transfer, the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline, according to the North Dakota Monitor.

Southwest Judicial District Judge James Gion issued the order Wednesday, finding parts of the jury’s damages lacked legal basis, were duplicative or exceeded statutory limits. The jury in March found Greenpeace liable for defamation and interference with Energy Transfer’s business during protests against the pipeline in 2016 and 2017.

Energy Transfer said it plans to ask the North Dakota Supreme Court to reverse Gion’s revisions, while Greenpeace said it will seek a new trial or appeal once the final judgment is entered.