Injunction Issued Against Greenpeace.

A federal district court granted Shell Offshore, Inc. a preliminary injunction against Greenpeace, Inc., a California corporation, showing there is a likelihood of success on the merits of its claim that Greenpeace USA would commit tortious or illegal acts against Shell’s Artic drilling operation in the absence of an injunction and that the resulting harm would be irreparable. There was evidence that Greenpeace USA has the goal of stopping Shell’s drilling for oil and “forcibly boarded an oil rig off the coast of Greenland in 2010 and used their bodies to impede a drilling operation.” On appeal, Greenpeace argued the action is not justiciable, the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction and that the court erred on the merits. The Ninth Circuit disagreed with all of Greenpeace’s arguments and affirmed, stating the district court did not abuse its discretion.  Shell Offshore, Inc. v. Greenpeace, Inc.  (Ninth Cir.; March 12, 2013) (Case No. 12-35332).