SUMMARY
The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) transports crude oil from the Bakken fields in North Dakota to terminals in Illinois, passing along the lands of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
In 2016, a wide range of environmental and social justice groups began a campaign to stop DAPL, citing the health and safety dangers that the project posed to nearby communities. The Standing Rock camp grew from a few protesters to a movement of thousands. Krystal Two Bulls, one of the most prominent activists in the movement, is a Oglala Lakota/Northern Cheyenne woman, a veteran of the U.S. Army, and a media liaison who helps to communicate to the broader public about the campaign at Standing Rock.
In December 2018, Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) and its parent company, Energy Transfer Equity, sued Ms. Two Bulls, alleging that her “calls to action” opposing the controversial pipeline amounted to “racketeering” under the Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations (RICO) Act.
ETP had previously sued the NGOs BankTrack and Greenpeace, as well as the EarthFirst! movement, using the same racketeering allegations. The federal court has since dismissed both the case against BankTrack and the case against EarthFirst!, and ordered ETP to re-draft its allegations against Greenpeace.
ETP’s series of lawsuits against activists attacks constitutionally protected free speech by attempting to punish legitimate advocacy work as mafia-like racketeering, and holding peaceful activists personally liable for any alleged criminal act committed against the pipeline by other protestors. Such claims are ludicrous and have been dismissed in similar cases in the past. ETP is pursuing these lawsuits in an attempt to harass and intimidate those who are opposed to its pipeline.
Corporations like ETP are misusing the U.S. legal system in order to silence their critics, using tactics such as “Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation” (SLAPP). The company’s intention in bringing a SLAPP is not to win, but to overburden the defendants with costly and time-intensive litigation procedures, while creating a chilling effect that discourages others from speaking out. RICO suits are so expensive to litigate that the process could force a nonprofit organization to close its doors before it even reached trial.
Other defendants named in the case are Greenpeace International, Greenpeace Inc., Greenpeace Fund, Earth First!, Cody Hall, Jessica Reznicek, Ruby Montoya, and Charles Brown. BankTrack was formerly a defendant.
TIMELINE
2016
A wide range of environmental and social justice groups begin a campaign against the Dakota Access Pipeline, challenging the project’s permit in court, protesting at the pipeline site, and conducting advocacy aimed at the pipeline developers and their financiers. Some individuals, not sanctioned by the broader movement of water protectors, choose to take aggressive actions including the destruction of equipment and pipeline infrastructure. Police and security personnel respond to the protests with mass arrests and allegedly excessive force, including the use of water cannons in freezing weather conditions as well as the use of attack dogs.
2017
Protests against the pipeline continued through February, but the pipeline project is ultimately completed.
In August, ETP sues BankTrack, Greenpeace, and the Earth First! movement, alleging mafia-like racketeering under the federal RICO law.
2018
On July 24, U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson issues a decision granting BankTrack’s motion to dismiss, a complete victory for the organization. Judge Wilson subsequently orders ETP to amend its complaint to plead specific allegations against Greenpeace.
On August 6, ETP files its amended complaint, adding Krystal Two Bulls and several other individuals as new defendants.
On August 22, the court dismisses the lawsuit against “Earth First!”
On December 5, ETP serves Krystal Two Bulls with the complaint.
2019
On February 14, 2019 Judge Wilson from the U.S. District Court of North Dakota dismissed Energy Transfer’s lawsuit against Krystal Two Bulls and other defendants. All the claims were dismissed, and the RICO claims were denied with prejudice–which means that Energy Transfer cannot refile RICO claims against Ms. Two Bulls.
DOCUMENTS
Motion to Dismiss – December 2018
Krystal Two Bulls Declaration
Krystal Two Bulls’ reply in support of Motion to Dismiss.
Motion to Dimiss Granted
