The environmental group Greenpeace was ordered to pay $660 million in damages for defamatory statements and damages caused by the group while protesting the construction of an oil pipeline in North Dakota, a jury found Wednesday.
Greenpeace, which vowed to appeal, said last month it could be forced into bankruptcy because of the case, ending over 50 years of environmental activism.
The protests, which saw acts of violence and vandalism, started in April 2016 and ended in February 2017 when the National Guard and police cleared the demonstrators’ site.
The case was brought by Texas-based Energy Transfer. Its lawyer alleged Greenpeace paid outsiders to come into the area and protest, sent blockade supplies, organized or led protester training, and made untrue statements about the project.
