"Greenpeace International challenges Energy Transfer in first use of EU anti-SLAPP Directive", 23 July 2024

...Greenpeace International pushed back today against a meritless, US $300 million lawsuit from US-based fossil fuel company Energy Transfer by sending a Notice of Liability to its headquarters in Dallas, Texas. The Notice of Liability informs Energy Transfer (ET) of Greenpeace International’s intention to bring a lawsuit against the company in a Dutch Court to recover all damage and costs it has suffered as a result of the SLAPP suit, unless ET withdraws its case and accepts responsibility for the harm Greenpeace International has suffered. 

The Notice of Liability marks the first application of the new European Union anti-SLAPP Directive. The EU adopted the Directive in April 2024 to combat SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) – abusive lawsuits, like the ET suit, that are meant to silence people who speak out on matters of public interest.

“Energy Transfer’s lawsuit is a perfect prototype of what the EU Directive aims to end: wealthy players using towering legal claims and costs to muzzle criticism. Thanks to a concerted civil society campaign, there is now a strong tool to stop these cases at the EU border and to fight back against them,” said Daniel Simons, Greenpeace International’s Senior Legal Counsel for Strategic Defence...

“The threat posed by corporate SLAPPs has been growing in recent years. The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) was set up in response to build solidarity and advance the case for anti-SLAPP legislation, including the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive published in April 2024. Energy Transfer’s lawsuit – and the Notice of Liability issued by Greenpeace international – represents a crucial test of this new law,” said Anna Myers, Executive Director of the Whistleblowing International Network and member of the CASE Steering Committee...