Judge cuts jury award by nearly half in Energy Transfer pipeline lawsuit

[Oil pipeline in green landscape]
spooh/E+ via Getty Images

A North Dakota state district judge ordered Greenpeace to pay damages of $345 million [https://seekingalpha.com/pr/20285369-judge-says-greenpeace-must-pay-345-million-in-pipeline-lawsuit-cutting-jury-amount-nearly-in], reducing an earlier jury award by nearly half after it found the environmental group and related entities were liable for defamation and other claims brought by Energy Transfer (ET [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ET]) related to protests of the Dakota Access oil pipeline nearly a decade ago, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Energy Transfer (ET [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ET]) said it plans to appeal the verdict "as we firmly believe that the original jury findings and damages awards for conspiracy and defamation are lawful and just."

In March, a jury awarded $667 million in damages to Energy Transfer (ET [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ET]), finding Greenpeace USA liable on all counts, including conspiracy, trespass, nuisance and tortious interference with business relations in a lawsuit that stemmed from protests against the pipeline and its crossing of the Missouri River near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's reservation.

The case would go next to the North Dakota Supreme Court.

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