Oregon jury awards $85 million to 9 victims of deadly 2020 wildfires

PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon jury on Tuesday awarded $85 million to nine victims of wildfires that ravaged the state in 2020, the latest verdict in a series of legal actions expected to leave utility PacifiCorp on the hook for billions of dollars over its liability for the deadly to burn. .

“We are so proud of the strength and resilience of our clients, and grateful to the jury for holding PacifiCorp accountable for what happened on Labor Day 2020 – something it itself will never do,” said Nick Rosinia , one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers. in a statement.

PacifiCorp expects post-judgment judgments and insurance payments to bring its share of the judgment to just under $80 million, the company said in a statement.

“The 2020 bushfires were undeniably tragic,” the report said. “PacifiCorp has settled and will continue to settle all reasonable claims for actual damages under Oregon law. … The growing threat of wildfires to communities and businesses is greater than any one business or sector.”

The fires were among the worst natural disasters in Oregon history, killing nine people, burning more than 1,800 square miles (4,856 square kilometers) and destroying more than 5,000 homes and other structures.

Last June, a jury found PacifiCorp liable for damages because it failed to turn off power to its 600,000 customers despite warnings from top fire officials, who said the power lines were responsible for multiple fires. PacifCorp has appealed.

That jury awarded about $90 million to 17 homeowners named as plaintiffs in the case, with damages to be determined later for a broader class that could include the owners of about 2,500 properties, as estimated by plaintiffs’ attorneys .

The damages awarded Tuesday were the first in cases brought by that broader class, with additional lawsuits expected in February and April.

PacifiCorp also agreed last month to pay $299 million to settle a lawsuit brought by 463 plaintiffs harmed by separate devastating wildfires in southern Oregon during Labor Day 2020.