The pipeline company that’s in a fight not only with Native American protesters in North Dakota as well as the federal government, now finds itself in a $4 million legal battle with landowners.
Dakota Access Pipeline, owned by a Dallas-based company was sued in federal court by a dozen families. They accused the firm of lying to them about prices for their easements and threatening that they would get nothing if they didn’t sign in a hurry.
The landowners accused Dakota Access LLC of fraud, misrepresentation and unfair tactics. All of the plaintiffs live in Morton County where much of the protesting began last spring. Their suit claims that they were told $216 per rod was the best price the company could be paid. But they later learned some Morton County landowners received as much as $2,000 per rod.
The suit also says Dakota Access told the landowners if they did not sign the easement, the company would seek to condemn and acquire the land by eminent domain.
The nearly $4 billion pipeline will carry oil from North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa and to Illinois.
