A Quarter-Billion Dollars for Defamation: Inside Greenpeace’s Huge Loss

When Greenpeace lost a $670 million verdict over its role in oil pipeline protests, a quarter-billion of the damages were awarded for defaming the pipeline’s owner, sparking concerns among activists and First Amendment experts. The lawsuit, filed by Energy Transfer in 2019, accused Greenpeace of orchestrating unlawful protests to block the Dakota Access Pipeline, with defamation claims playing a key role. The verdict raises questions about the boundaries between peaceful protest and unlawful activity, with implications for free speech and public debate.

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