Greenpeace asking for stay of nine-figure judgment in DAPL case

MORTON COUNTY, N.D. (KMOT) – The attorneys representing Greenpeace are asking the courts to essentially delay enforcement of a massive financial judgment in the DAPL civil damages case while post-trial motions play out.

In March, a Morton County jury ruled Greenpeace must pay more than $660 million in civil damages following the 2016-17 protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

In a motion filed in April, Greenpeace’s attorneys asked the courts to extend the 30-day automatic stay of enforcement. In their brief, they argue that the complexity of the case, including 25 different categories of damages, warrants an extension, and requiring the organizations to post large bonds would constitute undue hardship.

At trial, attorneys for Energy Transfer, the pipeline’s parent company, argued high-level players in the environmental organization orchestrated the protests and spread misinformation about the pipeline’s impact that led to millions in losses over profit, security measures, damaged equipment and more.

Greenpeace’s attorneys argued there was no conspiracy, and the demonstrations were largely driven by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

A videoconference hearing on the matter is scheduled for Thursday morning.