Resolute Forest Products Inc., Montreal, Que., Canada, has announced a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia against Greenpeace International, Greenpeace USA, Greenpeace Fund Inc., STAND (formerly ForestEthics), and a number of their associates. The complaint included federal racketeering claims and racketeering, trademark, defamation, and tortious interference claims under Georgia law. 

 

According to Resolute, these alleged claims arise from, among other things, Greenpeace's self-described "Resolute: Forest Destroyer" campaign falsely accusing Resolute of, among other things: (a) "destroying endangered forests" and "operating and sourcing wood . . . in violation of law," (b) causing the "destruction of endangered species" and "critical caribou habitat" and risking a "Caribou Herd Death Spiral," "extirpation," and "extinction;" (c) "abandoning" and "impoverishing" the Boreal's indigenous communities; and (d) impairing the Boreal's ability to mitigate climate change. 

The complaint describes in detail "the falsity of these and other malicious and defamatory accusations." Among other things, Resolute says, the complaint explains that far from being a "forest destroyer," Resolute has planted well more than a billion trees in the Boreal—which is a billion more than Greenpeace—and is responsible for virtually no permanent lost forest acreage. The complaint, it adds, also demonstrates that Resolute has not impaired the Boreal's ability to absorb greenhouse gases, and, instead, has improved that ability through harvesting and forestation as recognized and encouraged by the U.N. 

Resolute says that it also has not abandoned, exploited, or impoverished First Nations or other communities within the Boreal forest, but instead—and again unlike Greenpeace—has created and sustained substantial benefits for these peoples through shared economic participation in the forestry business. The complaint, Resolute points out, also details how to support its false accusations, Greenpeace has fabricated evidence and events, including, for example, staged photos falsely purporting to show Resolute logging in prohibited areas and as having harvested areas that were actually impacted by fire, the company emphasizes. 

"Our company strives for the highest standards of environmental stewardship, which is why the attacks on us are so obviously cynical and thoroughly irresponsible. We have an obligation to our business ethics, and our many shareholders, customers, partners and stakeholders to draw the line after all other means have been exhausted," stated Richard Garneau, Resolute's President and Chief Executive Officer.

Resolute is seeking compensatory damages in an amount to be proven at trial as well as treble and punitive damages, and is represented by Michael J. Bowe from Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP. Resolute's counsel is continuing its investigation of Greenpeace's campaign and practices, and one can provide information on a confidential basis by telephone at 212 542-4700. A website has also been established to catalog information and progress reports on the case and, when necessary, to set the record straight as the facts warrant. 

Resolute Forest Products is a global forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including, tissue, market pulp, wood products, newsprint, and specialty papers. The company owns or operates more than 40 pulp, paper, tissue, and wood products facilities in the U.S., Canada, and South Korea, as well as power generation assets in Canada and the U.S. Marketing its products in close to 80 countries, Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards.