Ten Oregon property owners have initiated the latest trial against utility company PacifiCorp, demanding more than $100 million in damages for wildfire destruction linked to the company’s actions during the devastating 2020 Labor Day fires. The trial, which began Tuesday in Portland, marks a continuation of a series of lawsuits that have already resulted in $385 million awarded to wildfire victims since 2023.
Represented by attorneys Nick Kahl of Nick Kahl LLC and Nicholas Rosinia of Edelson PC, the plaintiffs include a diverse group of residents—ranging from a professional pet photographer to a charter boat operator—who suffered severe losses, including homes and businesses, due to wildfires allegedly caused by PacifiCorp’s failure to shut off power during a critical wind event.
“When a corporation starts fires that force people to evacuate, that burns down their homes … that corporation must be held accountable,” said plaintiffs’ lawyer Nick Kahl during opening statements.
The fires in question were linked to PacifiCorp’s utility lines during unprecedented high winds on Labor Day in 2020. Prior juries found the company liable for reckless and willful conduct, citing failure to trim overgrown trees near power lines, ignoring weather warnings, and not disabling automatic circuit reclosers that reactivated power despite fire risks.
PacifiCorp’s defense, led by attorney Alison Plessman of Hueston Hennigan, acknowledges agreed-upon economic damages ranging from approximately $75,000 to $965,000 per plaintiff but contends the current trial should focus solely on emotional distress claims.
The plaintiffs’ properties are spread throughout Oregon, including coastal Lincoln City, the Santiam Canyon near Salem, and southern areas near Medford.
This trial continues the precedent set in 2023 when a classwide jury determined PacifiCorp’s liability and established punitive damages as one-quarter of compensatory damages for future trials.
The ongoing litigation underscores the accountability demanded from utility companies to prevent wildfire damage and protect Oregon residents.
