Jury Rules Greenpeace Owes $660M to Pipeline Firm, Sparking Concerns Over Free Speech and Protest Rights

Mandan, ND – A North Dakota jury has handed down a verdict requiring Greenpeace to pay Energy Transfer hundreds of millions of dollars over its involvement in protests against the Dakota Access pipeline. The jury, after extensive deliberation, sided predominantly with the plaintiff on accusations of defamation and facilitating illegal activities during the demonstrations. Dallas-based Energy Transfer, valued near $70 billion, initially brought the lawsuit against Greenpeace, accusing the environmental group of promoting falsehoods and instigating disruptive protests in 2016 and 2017. Greenpeace countered, citing the accusations as attempts to suppress peaceful, constitutionally guaranteed protests. … Read more

California Councilman Found Liable in Civil Case for Past Sexual Misconduct, Owes Over $1 Million in Damages

Los Angeles — A California jury awarded over $1 million in damages to Stephen Siefke on Tuesday, ruling that Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra was liable for sexual battery and lewd acts on Siefke when he was a minor. The civil court decision concluded that Dutra caused Siefke considerable emotional and mental distress following the incident, which took place nearly two decades ago. The case, adjudicated in Los Angeles, centered on allegations from an incident in 2005, when Siefke was 12 years old. According to Siefke, the abuse occurred during a family visit to Los … Read more