SAN FRANCISCO \u2014 Today, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed all claims in the controversial case that major logging company Resolute Forest Products\u00a0[2]\u00a0filed against Greenpeace Inc., Greenpeace Fund, and Greenpeace International, Stand.earth and individual defendants, including claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) act.<\/p>\n
The court\u2019s decision sends a clear message to corporations that attacks on core democratic values like freedom of speech and legitimate advocacy on issues of public interest will not be tolerated. District Judge Jon S. Tigar wrote in his order dismissing the case that \u201cthe defendants\u2019 speech constituted the expression of opinion, or different viewpoints that [are] a vital part of our democracy.\u201d Noting that \u201cGreenpeace\u2019s publications at issue rely on scientific research or fact\u201d, the judge added that \u201c[t]he academy, and not the courthouse, is the appropriate place to resolve scientific disagreements of this kind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Resolute will be allowed to amend its filing as a formality, but Greenpeace is confident that any such attempt will meet a similar fate.<\/p>\n
Greenpeace USA General Counsel Tom Wetterer said in response to the decision:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are pleased the court unequivocally threw out this attempt to abuse our legal system and silence legitimate criticism on matters of public concern. This is very positive news for all of us, for the values that we share, and for Canada\u2019s boreal forest. Resolute\u2019s claim that organizations and activists committed to the conservation of the forests were part of a criminal enterprise is absurd and a sad symptom of a wider assault on constitutional rights and democracy. The logging company\u2019s allegations were a clear attempt to silence the voices that advocate for the environment. Recently, Energy Transfer Partners \u2014 the oil company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline \u2014 decided to follow a strikingly similar path\u00a0[3]<\/sup>\u00a0under the legal wing of none other than Trump\u2019s go-to law firm. The similarities are apparent and this underhanded playbook targeting free speech should be a cause of real concern. We\u2019re grateful that the court has shown today it is a losing playbook, but that doesn\u2019t mean corporate bullies like ETP won\u2019t stop trying to use it.<\/p>\n \u201cEnergy Transfer\u2019s case repackages many of the spurious allegations and legal claims made against Greenpeace by the Kasowitz firm on behalf of Resolute. The decision on the Resolute suit should be a clear indication that Energy Transfer\u2019s case has no future. Both are classic SLAPPs, or strategic lawsuits against public participation. These cases don\u2019t seek justice. They intend to silence free speech through expensive, time-consuming litigation. This pattern of harassment by corporate bullies led by Trump\u2019s go-to attorneys must be stopped in its tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n Greenpeace USA Senior Forest Campaigner Daniel Brindis added:<\/p>\n \u201cThe judge\u2019s decision to dismiss the case affirms that Resolute\u2019s divisive and bullying tactics are a waste of time and resources. It is time for Resolute to finally work with environmental organizations including Greenpeace to address their destructive forestry operations and forge a collaborative and sustainable path forward. Instead of spending more valuable resources to amend this lawsuit, Greenpeace hopes Resolute will finally be ready to work together to find solutions. Thousands in Canada and around the world have called for the protection of the forest, it\u2019s time for Resolute to listen to them too. The world needs a healthy boreal forest and together we can develop long term sustainable solutions that respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, protect local communities and ensure the survival of species at risk like the Woodland Caribou. \u201d<\/p>\n Notes to editors:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n [1] Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0to download a copy of the order.<\/p>\n [2] On May 31, 2016 Resolute Forest Products filed a CAD$300 million lawsuit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) in the United States District Court for Southern Georgia, against Greenpeace International, Greenpeace, Inc., Greenpeace Fund, Inc., STAND.earth (formerly ForestEthics), and five individual staff members of these independent organizations. The case was transferred to Northern California on May 16, 2017 when Resolute failed to demonstrate that the case should be heard in Georgia.<\/p>\n This is Resolute\u2019s second lawsuit against Greenpeace. In 2013, the company filed a CAD$7 million defamation case against Greenpeace Canada and two staff members in Ontario, which is still pending.\u00a0Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more information about the existing legal cases between Resolute Forest Products and defendants, or copy this to your browser:\u00a0http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/resolutelawsuits\/<\/a><\/p>\n [3] On August 22, 2017 Energy Transfer Partners filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit under under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).\u00a0Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more information about the existing legal cases between Resolute Forest Products and defendants, or copy this to your browser:\u00a0http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/global-warming\/greenpeace-v-energy-transfer-partners-facts\/<\/a><\/p>\n Media contacts:<\/strong><\/p>\n Valerie Holford,\u00a0valerieholford@starpower.net<\/a>\u00a0202.365.5336<\/p>\n