Oregon Court of Appeals Ruling Could Impact $1 Billion in Wildfire Damages Against PacifiCorp
The Oregon Court of Appeals has issued a ruling that may affect over $1 billion in damages awarded to victims of the 2020 wildfires in Oregon. The court found that a jury instruction during a 2023 trial was legally erroneous. This trial had found PacifiCorp liable for not cutting power despite warnings, leading to the decision to award damages to a class of property owners. The appellate court's decision to remand the case back to a lower court is based on the jury being instructed to apply evidence from four different wildfires to all class members, which the judges deemed prejudicial to PacifiCorp. The wildfires in question include the Santiam Canyon, Echo Mountain Complex, South Obenchain, and 242 fires, which collectively caused significant destruction and loss of life. 
