Oregon jury determines PacifiCorp owes $39M in latest wildfire trial

PacifiCorp wildfire trial verdict overview: 

• Who: An Oregon jury ruled PacifiCorp must pay $39.3 million in non-economic damages to a group of 10 plaintiffs. 
• Why: The award was given to resolve claims the plaintiffs were forced to flee wildfires in 2020 that PacifiCorp has been found liable for starting. 
• Where: The case was in the Fourth Judicial District Court of Oregon.

A jury in Oregon reportedly awarded $39.3 million in non-economic damages to a group of 10 plaintiffs who argued they fled wildfires in 2020 that utility company PacifiCorp has been found liable for starting. 

In addition to the non-economic damages, PacifiCorp agreed prior to the trial on the amount of economic damages it owes to each of the plaintiffs, reports Law360. 

The largest non-economic awards given by the Oregon jury went to two members of the group, with each reportedly receiving an amount slightly exceeding $5 million. Jurors heard closing arguments in the trial on Dec. 9. 

The verdict comes after PacifiCorp announced a $150 million settlement with more than 1,400 plaintiffs in November and said it has paid around $1.6 billion to settle almost 4,200 claims related to the Labor Day 2020 wildfires. 

PacifiCorp found responsible for starting fires by classwide jury in 2023

PacifiCorp was found responsible for starting the fires by a classwide jury in 2023, with the jury hearing the utility company made a choice not to shut down power lines despite forecasts showing a dangerous windstorm was closing in, reports Law360. 

PacifiCorp is appealing the decision of the classwide jury, which also said punitive damages should be awarded at 25% of compensatory damages for all future trials. 

The total amount of damages from the trials is currently at around half a billion dollars, with single trial verdicts from this year reaching at least as high as $63 million, reports Law360. 

In other wildfire-related lawsuit news, individuals who were affected by the Camarillo Mountain fire in Ventura County in 2024 may qualify to pursue compensation by way of a lawsuit. 

Were you affected by the Labor Day 2020 wildfires? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Michael Kelso of Susman Godfrey LLP.

The PacifiCorp wildfire trial verdict is In re: PacifiCorp, case number unavailable, in the Fourth Judicial District Court of Oregon.

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