Legal Documents
Energy Transfer’s SLAPP lawsuits
Since 2017, Greenpeace International and Greenpeace entities in the US have been defending themselves against back-to-back, meritless SLAPP lawsuits filed by Energy Transfer. Here is a selection of key court documents that have been made available to the public.
The meritless lawsuits filed by Energy Transfer (ET) against Greenpeace International and Greenpeace entities in the US since 2017 are clear-cut examples of SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). Like all SLAPPs, ET’s lawsuits are an attempt to bury nonprofits and activists in legal fees, threaten them with bankruptcy and ultimately silence dissent.
On March 19, a Morton County jury of nine reached a verdict in Energy Transfer’s SLAPP against Greenpeace entities in the US (Greenpeace Inc, Greenpeace Fund), and Greenpeace International, finding the entities liable for more than US$660 million. But this fight is far from over: the legal battle continues in the US and in the Netherlands.
In February 2025, Greenpeace International, based in the Netherlands, initiated the first test of the European Union’s anti-SLAPP Directive by filing a lawsuit in Dutch court against ET seeking to recover all damages and costs it has suffered as a result of ET’s lawsuits. A hearing is scheduled for July 2025.
North Dakota State Supreme Court
District Court Orders
Documents filed by Energy Transfer and other Plaintiffs
- 06 Mar 2024 – Second Amended Complaint
- 22 Aug 2017 – Initial Complaint for Jury Trial
Documents filed by Greenpeace International and/or The Greenpeace Defendants
- 27 Feb 2025 – Petition for Supervisory Writ on Venue Change
- 22 Nov 2024 – Emergency Motion to Allow Limited Discovery on Direct Mailing to Potential Morton County Jurors
- 23 Oct 2024 – Motion to Permit Live Streaming of Proceedings
- 12 Apr 2024 – Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs Tortious Interference and Conspiracy Claims
- 08 Apr 2024 – Brief in Support Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Service Delay Damages
- 08 Apr 2024 – Brief in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Defamation and Tortious Interference Claims
- 08 Apr 2024 – Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment on All Counts
- Brief in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs’ Defamation Claim Regarding Tribal Lands
- Brief in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs’ Defamation Claim Regarding Damage to Cultural Sites
- Brief in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs’ Defamation Claim Regarding “Use of Force”
Documents filed by Third Parties
Updates from Greenpeace’s defense
