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PacifiCorp revealed Wednesday that it has struck a $150 million settlement with more than 1,400 plaintiffs who claim the Berkshire Hathaway-owned utility’s equipment ignited the catastrophic Labor Day 2020 wildfires that ravaged Oregon.

A Growing Ledger of Liability

The agreement pushes PacifiCorp’s total wildfire payouts to $1.6 billion since 2020, resolving nearly 4,200 claims—approximately 70% of all individual wildfire claims in Oregon and California, the company said.
But the bulk of remaining disputes lie within expansive class litigation pending in Multnomah County Circuit Court, where thousands of fire survivors continue pressing their cases.

Ryan Flynn, president of PacifiCorp’s Pacific Power division, said the company is taking the “responsible” route.
“We are gratified to resolve these claims to provide plaintiffs closure,” Flynn said, adding that the settlement process was the “fairest and most efficient” path forward.
He criticized class actions as costly, prolonged, and barriers to reasonable outcomes.

Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Divided Over Deal

The plaintiffs joining the agreement are represented by Warren Allen LLP, Spreter & Petiprin APC, and Swigart Law Group—the same firms that secured a $178 million settlement for more than 400 Oregon residents in June 2024.

Lead Class Attorneys Accuse Firms of “Collusion”

But attorneys steering the major class litigation fired back, accusing the three firms of cutting a weak deal and aiding the utility.
Lawyers at Edelson PC, Keller Rohrback LLP, and Stoll Berne called the pact “paltry” and alleged the firms appeared to be “working hand-in-hand with PacifiCorp, to enrich themselves, benefit PacifiCorp, and harm fire survivors.”

In response, George McCoy of Warren Allen defended the settlement, praising it as a principled and community-focused resolution.
He emphasized that the dispute won’t be solved by punitive legislation or drawn-out trials, but through collaborative approaches like the one that led to Wednesday’s agreement.

PacifiCorp Seeking to Resolve Echo Mountain and Other Fires

The company says it remains open to settling all reasonable outstanding claims tied to the Echo Mountain, South Obenchain, and 242 wildfires.
According to PacifiCorp, nearly 20% of the class-action plaintiffs have now agreed to settlements.

Company Still Fighting Some Claims

PacifiCorp maintains it will continue defending lawsuits involving the Beachie Creek/Santiam Canyon fire.
It cites an Oregon Department of Forestry report concluding the utility’s equipment did not start or contribute to that blaze.

Jury Verdicts Continue to Climb

The settlement follows an October Oregon jury verdict ordering PacifiCorp to pay more than $26 million to the latest group of plaintiffs.
A 2023 jury had previously found PacifiCorp liable for the fires, faulting the utility for keeping its power lines energized despite forecasts of a dangerous windstorm, and ruling punitive damages should equal 25% of compensatory damages in future trials.

Life-Altering Losses for Survivors

Among the October verdicts, the largest single award—$5.5 million—went to David Hoy, whose long-held dream job on a horse ranch ended in ashes.
Hoy testified that he lost nearly everything: his home, his livelihood, and even his relationship with his teenage daughter, who relocated to live with her mother after the fires.

PacifiCorp stipulated to economic damages for all but one plaintiff, Deane Clark, a jewelry maker who claimed extensive lost valuables.
Clark received $550,000 in economic damages and $4.5 million in non-economic damages.

With multiple trials still unfolding, wildfire-related verdicts now sit in the hundreds of millions, with single-trial outcomes this year reaching as high as $63 million.