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.
North Dakota State Supreme Court
- 07 May 2026 – State Supreme Court Opinion on Energy Transfer’s Petition for Supervisory Writ
- 05 Mar 2025 – State Supreme Court Denial of Greenpeace parties petition for venue change
District Court Orders
- 04 Aug 2026 – District Court order on stay of enforcement
- 03 Aug 2026 – District Court order and anti-suit injunction
- 30 Mar 2026 – District Court Opinion and Order on Motion to Extend Automatic Stay
- 27 Feb 2026 – Judgment
- 27 Feb 2026 – Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Renewed Motion for Order for Judgment
- 24 Feb 2026 – District Court Opinion denying Motion for Reconsideration
- 24 Feb 2026 – District Court Opinion on Energy Transfer’s Motion for Order for Judgment
- 29 Oct 2025 – District Court Opinion on Motions for Judgment as a Matter of Law, for Reduction in Damages, for Order for Judgment; and for Extension of Automatic Stay
- 09 Sep 2025 – District Court Opinion Denying Motion for Anti-Suit Injunction
- 19 Mar 2025 – Special Verdict Form Energy Transfer et al v. Greenpeace International et al
- 14 Feb 2019 – District Court Dismissal of Energy Transfer’s Initial Complaint
- 25 Jul 2018 – District Court Orders ET to Amend Jury Trial complaint
Documents filed by Energy Transfer and other Plaintiffs
- 09 Apr 2026 – ET Plaintiffs’ brief in opposition to defendants’ motion for order for final judgment
- 01 April 2026 – Brief in Support of Plaintiffs’ Expedited Motion to Vacate Unsecured, 61-day Stay of Execution of the Judgment
- 12 Aug 2025 – Plaintiffs’ Reply ISO Emergency Motion for Anti-Suit Injunction
- 22 Jul 2025 – Notice of Plaintiffs’ Emergency Motion for Anti-Suit Injunction
- 22 Jul 2025 – Plaintiffs’ Letter Request to Judge Gion regarding Entering Judgment
- 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 Mar 2026 – Greenpeace Defendants’ Brief in Support of Motion for a New Trial, or to Alter or Amend the Judgment
- 26 Mar 2026 – Greenpeace Defendants’ Brief in Support of Motion for Order for Final Judgment
- 09 Mar 2026 – Greenpeace Inc.’s Brief in Support of Greenpeace Defendants’ Motion to Stay Proceedings to Enforce the Judgment without Bond, or in the Alternative with Modified Security
- 09 Mar 2026 – Greenpeace International’s Brief in Support of Greenpeace Defendants’ Motion to Stay Proceedings to Enforce the Judgment without Bond, or in the Alternative with Modified Security
- 05 Mar 2026 – Brief in Support of Greenpeace Defendants’ Expedited motion to extend Automatic Stay under Rule 62(a)
- 25 Nov 2025 – Brief in Support of Motion for Reconsideration of the Court’s October 28 2025 Opinion
- 05 Aug 2025 – Greenpeace International’s Response to Plaintiffs’ Emergency Motion for Anti-Suit Injunction
- 23 Jul 2025 – Greenpeace International’s letter to Judge Gion in response to Emergency Motion
- 16 Apr 2025 – Brief in Support of Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law
- 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
- 05 Aug 2025 – Affidavit of Hermans
- 05 Aug 2025 – Affidavit of Barthet
- 14 Feb 2025 – Request for Expanded Media Coverage and Use of Recording Devices
