Peace Garden News

North Dakota secured a significant legal victory in its Federal Tort Claims Act case against the federal government, with a $27.8 million ruling. This decision marks the first time a state has successfully prevailed against the federal government in such a case. The lawsuit sought reimbursement for emergency expenses incurred during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

In response to the ruling, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) stated, "This ruling is a colossal win for the North Dakota taxpayers who were forced to bear the cost of our federal government’s abdication of its duties during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Even before neglecting their responsibilities, our government literally facilitated the violence. This $27.8 million judgment is a win for the rule of law, for sure, and it’s a win for the Constitution of the United States. It’s the result of nearly a decade of hard work from North Dakota’s Attorney General’s office and I really thank them for their efforts."

The lawsuit aimed to recover costs related to unlawful Dakota Access Pipeline protests, which lasted nearly eight months in 2016 and 2017 and resulted in over $38 million in damages. In his ruling, Judge Dan Traynor stated, "In 2016, the executive branch, through the Corps, decided it did not have to play by the rule of law and permitted a lawless faction to trample, injure, and disrupt the peace and tranquility of North Dakota."

Senator Cramer also published an op-ed discussing the case's importance and released summaries from each week of the trial to provide detailed information on the proceedings.