PacifiCorp Wins Appeal in Oregon Wildfire Case, Potentially Reducing Liability
An appeals court in Oregon has ruled in favor of PacifiCorp, a unit of Berkshire Hathaway, regarding a series of wildfires that occurred in 2020. The court found that a trial judge erred in allowing litigation against the utility to proceed as a class action. This decision could significantly reduce PacifiCorp's liability, which was previously estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars. The wildfires in question, including the Santiam Canyon and Echo Mountain Complex fires, were alleged to have been caused by PacifiCorp's failure to shut off power lines during a windstorm. The court's decision highlighted that the evidence presented was specific to individual fires and should not have been assumed to apply to all class members. The case has been sent back to the Multnomah County Circuit Court for reconsideration. 
