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Oregon Court Ruling Could Shift $1 Billion Wildfire Damages

4/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

An Oregon appeals court ruled in favor of PacifiCorp, potentially impacting over $1 billion in damages for victims of the 2020 wildfires.
The court returned a class-action case to a lower trial court due to issues with jury instructions from a previous trial that found PacifiCorp liable for negligence.
The ruling affects more than 2,000 property owners impacted by multiple wildfires.
PacifiCorp has agreed to pay over $2 billion to settle related claims and plans to sell assets to stabilize its finances.
The future of the case is uncertain, with over 1,000 class members scheduled for trial in 2026 and 2027.

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Story summary

An Oregon appeals court ruled in favor of PacifiCorp, potentially impacting over $1 billion in damages for victims of the 2020 wildfires.
The court returned a class-action case to a lower trial court due to issues with jury instructions from a previous trial that found PacifiCorp liable for negligence.
The ruling affects more than 2,000 property owners impacted by multiple wildfires.
PacifiCorp has agreed to pay over $2 billion to settle related claims and plans to sell assets to stabilize its finances.
The future of the case is uncertain, with over 1,000 class members scheduled for trial in 2026 and 2027.