Breaking – Verdict in Landmark SLAPP Case Against Greenpeace: Water Protector Legal Collective Continues the Call for Corporate Transparency and Accountability, and Respect for Indigenous Sovereignty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2025

Contact: Nizhoni Begay, WPLC Communications, communications@waterprotectorlegal.org, (210) 324-3393

Breaking – Verdict in Landmark SLAPP Case Against Greenpeace: Water Protector Legal Collective Continues the Call for Corporate Transparency and Accountability, and Respect for Indigenous Sovereignty

Mandan, ND – A North Dakota jury has ruled in favor of Energy Transfer, awarding the company hundreds of millions of dollars in damages in its lawsuit against Greenpeace, Energy Transfer v. Greenpeace, a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP). The case centered on Greenpeace’s alleged role in supporting the 2016-2017 Indigenous-led protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), where Water Protector Legal Collective (WPLC) was born, which drew national attention and solidarity from tens of thousands of Water Protectors. WPLC is sounding the alarm on judicial transparency and corporate influence in the U.S. legal system, and what is clearly an attack on Indigenous sovereignty.

The case, filed by Dallas-based Energy Transfer, the corporation behind the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), accused Greenpeace of defamation, trespass, and civil conspiracy in connection with the Indigenous-led and prayerful 2016-2017 Standing Rock protests. The nine-person jury deliberated for two days before finding Greenpeace liable for causing financial harm to Energy Transfer, which claimed that Greenpeace played a central role in the protests and damaged the company’s reputation. Greenpeace has maintained throughout the trial that it was only one of many organizations that supported the movement and accused Energy Transfer of using the lawsuit as a SLAPP to silence dissent. A judgment of this magnitude could force Greenpeace to shut down its operations in the United States, posing a serious threat to advocacy organizations that challenge corporate power and environmental destruction. This verdict has devastating consequences for environmental advocacy, First Amendment rights, and aims to re-write Indigenous history and knowledge.

Energy Transfer, one of the largest pipeline companies in the country, argued that Greenpeace coordinated, funded, and fueled the protests to delay the pipeline and increase project costs. During closing arguments, counsel for Energy Transfer accused Greenpeace of exploiting the protests at Standing Rock to advance its own agenda as part of a “false narrative” against the pipeline company, and called on the jury to “fight back,” asking the jury to impose punitive damages on top of the $340 million in allegedly incurred costs. 

Despite ET’s narrative, “nothing could be further from the truth,” as Chairwoman Janet Alkire of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe recently stated, “DAPL does cross Sioux Nation treaty and aboriginal land for hundreds of miles; there was violence by law enforcement and Energy Transfer security guards and Tribal burials were destroyed.” 

Natali Segovia, Executive Director and Senior Attorney of the Water Protector Legal Collective and a trial monitor, frames the case as part of a broader strategy to undermine Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice movements, with deep implications that extend to all advocates challenging corporate abuse and malfeasance. In a New York Times article published today, Natali stated: “At its core, this case is a proxy war against Indigenous sovereignty using an international environmental organization.”

Throughout the trial, WPLC and an independent trial monitoring committee have raised concerns about judicial transparency, noting the court’s refusal to provide public access to the proceedings. Despite filing an emergency petition with the North Dakota Supreme Court to lift restrictions on livestream access, the trial proceeded largely without public access, leaving critical questions about fairness and due process unanswered. Critical concerns remain about the impartiality of the jury, since most if not all, had connections to the oil and gas industry, already knew about the case, indicated being negatively impacted by #noDAPL protests, and had likely received mailers from an unknown source touting Energy Transfer’s reputation.

Energy Transfer’s safety record is marred by numerous violations and environmental crimes. The company has continued to operate the Dakota Access Pipeline illegally, without the necessary permits or a final Environmental Impact Statement, desecrating sacred burial sites and contaminating essential water ways. Just this week, the Pennsylvania Attorney General launched a new investigation into Energy Transfer and Sunoco for committing environmental crimes, adding to the 23 criminal convictions the company already holds for water contamination in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

“Energy Transfer’s campaign to erase the truth about its environmental violations cannot go unchecked,” said WPLC Staff Attorney, Summer Blaze Aubrey. “The outcome of this case will reverberate far beyond Greenpeace. This case is the most slept on case affecting Indian Country in years.  It will determine whether corporations can weaponize the courts to silence Indigenous and Original Nations’ histories and knowledge and all those who stand to protect their homelands.”

The fight for corporate accountability and judicial transparency will continue. This case has exposed deep flaws in the legal system that allow corporations to manipulate the legal system and chill dissent through costly, drawn-out litigation. The verdict has chilling implications for the ability of advocacy organizations to challenge corporate interests. 

Despite the verdict, advocates emphasize that the struggle for water, land, and Indigenous sovereignty continues—and the fight against corporate power and environmental destruction is far from over. “The verdict may close one chapter, but the struggle for truth, justice, and corporate accountability continues. This is one battle and the war is far from over,” said Natali Segovia. “In the end, we take our cues from the water. We stay the course—even when it seems impossible.”

The Water Protector Legal Collective (WPLC) is 501(c)3 Indigenous-led non-profit law firm and advocacy organization that works to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Original Nations, the Earth, and climate justice movements. Born out of the #noDAPL movement at Standing Rock, WPLC’s founding mission was to serve as the on the ground legal team for the Indigenous-led movement, providing representation to over 800 Water Protectors facing state repression. Today, WPLC continues to work on the frontlines of struggles to protect the Earth in the United States and internationally, focusing on human rights at the intersection of Indigenous rights, climate and environmental justice.