Latest jury verdicts, settlements, and legal outcome analysis
A Multnomah County jury awarded $38,629,961 to seven Plaintiffs who suffered property destruction and emotional distress during Oregon's 2020 Labor Day wildfires. The Phase II damages trial found PacifiCorp liable for losses from the Echo Mountain Complex fire and the 242 fire, with individual noneconomic awards ranging from $1.69 million to $5.92 million.
In a high-stakes Phase II trial, an Oregon jury held utility giant PacifiCorp accountable for the emotional and physical devastation caused by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Following an earlier finding of liability, this proceeding focused on sixteen specific class members who lost homes and heritage in the Santiam Canyon and South Obenchain regions. The jury awarded million in non-economic damages, ranging from $1 million to $6 million per person, rejecting the utility's defense that it was not the sole cause of the destruction.
Residents and property owners across Oregon secured a major win against PacifiCorp, operating as Pacific Power, after claiming the utility’s negligence fueled the devastating Labor Day 2020 wildfires. Plaintiffs said PacifiCorp ignored National Weather Service warnings and industry safety practices by keeping power lines energized during extreme winds and dry conditions. Fires like Santiam Canyon, Echo Mountain Complex, and South Obenchain scorched homes, businesses, and forests, displacing thousands. PacifiCorp denied wrongdoing, citing unprecedented weather and safety concerns over power shutoffs. On May 21, 2025, a Multnomah County jury awarded over $50 million in compensatory damages and confirmed PacifiCorp’s liability, marking another significant phase in the ongoing class action trial.
