Greenpeace ordered the payment of $ 660 million to the protests to reach Dakota

On Wednesday, a jury requested a set of environmental campaign Greenpeace to pay more than 660 million dollars In the damage to the Energy Transfer company in Texas, the Dakota pipeline developer to reach Dakota.

The jury of nine people in Mandan, North Dakota, has reached a ruling nearly two days after the deliberations. Greenpeace found that hundreds of millions of dollars have been responsible for the measures taken to prevent the construction of the Dakota pipeline. Almost a decade ago.

It represents an unusual legal kick for Greenpeace, which has already been to caution It can be forced to bankruptcy due to the case. The Environmental Call Group said it intends to challenge the ruling.

“This issue should be alerted everyone, regardless of their political inclinations,” “Greenpeace US Executive Executive Suchma Raman He said In a statement published on Wednesday.

Raman said: “It is part of a renewed batch by companies to arm our courts to silence opposition.

Greenpeace has described the state of energy transfer as a clear example of Slapps, Reference To a lawsuit designed to bury the groups active in legal fees and silence the opposition in the end. Slapp is an acronym for “strategic lawsuit against public participation”.

Energy transfer said that the ruling of the jury was a “victory” for “Americans who understand the difference between the right to freedom of expression and break the law,” according to Associated PressQuoting a statement from the company.

The company added: “While we are pleased that Greenpis has been responsible for our actions, this victory is really dedicated to the people of Mandan and all over the Northern Dakota who had to live through daily harassment and disturbances caused by the demonstrators who were funded and trained by Greenpeace.”

A spokesman for the power transfer was not immediately available for comment when contacting him by CNBC on Thursday morning.