The full picture · 2 sources
Judge denies Greenpeace request for new trial in $345 million Dakota Access Pipeline suit
Updated Nov 3, 7:08 PM CT. Every fact below links to the source that reported it.
What the primary sources show
- On Monday, Judge James Gion of the Southwest Judicial District denied Greenpeace's motion for a new trial. [Bismarck Source] [KFYR-TV]
- Gion did not find Greenpeace's arguments persuasive in his order. [KFYR-TV]
- In early 2025, a Morton County jury found Greenpeace at fault for inciting illegal acts during 2016 and 2017 pipeline protests and for publishing false statements about Energy Transfer, and it ordered about $667 million in payment. [Bismarck Source] [KFYR-TV]
- Judge Gion reduced the award to $345 million. [Bismarck Source] [KFYR-TV]
- Greenpeace argues the trial was unfair, citing inaccurate evidence, errors in the jury instructions and verdict form, and a biased jury pool in Morton County. [Bismarck Source] [KFYR-TV]
- Energy Transfer's attorneys defend the verdict and say Greenpeace is responsible for the harm it caused. [KFYR-TV]
- Greenpeace will appeal to the North Dakota Supreme Court. [Bismarck Source] [KFYR-TV]
What they left out / still unanswered
- Neither source says when Greenpeace will file its appeal with the North Dakota Supreme Court.
- Neither source reports whether the court will consider Greenpeace's request to move a new trial to Cass County.
- Neither source says whether the $345 million judgment must be paid or secured while the appeal is pending.
Official line vs. how each source framed it
- Bismarck Source: This Bismarck outlet reported the denial and added that the lawsuit names three Greenpeace entities and that Greenpeace cited pro-energy media and mailers in Bismarck and Mandan as sources of local bias. Read it →
- KFYR-TV: This North Dakota Monitor report, carried by KFYR-TV, added Greenpeace International general counsel Kristin Casper's appeal statement, Energy Transfer's response, and Greenpeace's suggestion that Cass County be the venue for a new trial. Read it → · Ads
701 News writes these summaries from the sources above and checks every sentence against them. Read the originals for the full reporting. Corrections