Oregon jury awards $305M to wildfire victims in recent class-action ruling

An Oregon jury recently ruled that PacifiCorp must pay $305 million to 16 victims of the 2020 wildfires in the state, marking the latest development in a class-action lawsuit against the utility company. This verdict brings the total damages awarded to members of the class to over $1 billion after a 2023 trial found PacifiCorp negligent for not cutting power during a windstorm, despite warnings from fire officials.

Currently, PacifiCorp is appealing the case through the state court system, while more than 1,000 class members have trials scheduled for 2026 and 2027. The 2020 Labor Day weekend fires were among Oregon’s worst natural disasters, claiming 11 lives, burning over 1,560 square miles, and destroying countless homes. The recent jury decision specifically awarded compensation to 16 victims of the Santiam Canyon fire in northwest Oregon.

According to Shawn Rabin, the leader of the trial team representing the plaintiffs, the verdict serves as a meaningful acknowledgment of the hardships faced by the victims and underscores the irreparable losses suffered as a consequence of the wildfires. In response to the ruling, PacifiCorp agreed to pay a $575 million settlement for damages related to six wildfires in Oregon and California, as announced by officials on Friday.

In an email statement, PacifiCorp expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, labeling it an “irresponsible result” concerning damages caused by a fire that the utility insists it did not ignite or contribute to, as determined by the Oregon Department of Forestry. The utility vows to continue challenging these verdicts. Last year, an Oregon Department of Forestry report revealed that 12 of the 19 fires in Santiam Canyon in September 2020 were sparked by embers from another fire. The remaining seven fires were attributed to downed power lines but were deemed not responsible for escalating the large fires in the canyon, as they were contained by residents or firefighters.

To resolve various lawsuits stemming from the 2020 wildfires, PacifiCorp has agreed to pay upwards of $2 billion, including $575 million to the federal government for fire damages on federal lands in Oregon and California. Despite ongoing legal battles, PacifiCorp remains steadfast in its position, maintaining that it will challenge the rulings as it navigates the complex aftermath of the devastating wildfires.