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Jerry Vavra, a photographer who lost his studio and decades of archived work, was awarded $3.85 million.
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George Orey, a charter boat operator from Otis, received $3.62 million.
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Brenda Dairy of Gates, Oregon, whose home was completely destroyed, was awarded $3.41 million.
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Nigel Dolder, who narrowly escaped with his family during the firestorm, was awarded $2.64 million.
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The smallest award, $728,000, went to Sandy Pearson, who had plans to build a home on her property.
In 2023, a previous jury found PacifiCorp liable to the entire plaintiff class, citing reckless and willful conduct, and declared the company’s actions a public and private nuisance as well as trespass. Jurors heard evidence that the utility failed to shut off power, even amid extreme wind conditions and active fire outbreaks, and left hazardous vegetation near its power lines.
Despite claims by PacifiCorp that it was an industry leader in wildfire mitigation and had implemented preventative strategies, the court found otherwise. Jurors noted that the utility also failed to disable “reclosers,” devices that automatically reconnect power lines after disruptions, during the emergency.
Plaintiffs were represented by:
