Oregon Appeals Court Overturns $1 Billion in Wildfire Damages Against PacifiCorp

Ruling cites errors in jury instructions, opens door for utility to challenge class certification

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:04am by Ben Kaplan

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a collection of sleek, metallic and glass objects arranged in a minimalist, elegant composition, symbolizing the abstract legal and financial challenges surrounding the Oregon wildfire class action lawsuit.A conceptual still life representing the complex legal battle between wildfire victims and the utility company held responsible for the devastating blazes.Portland Today

The Oregon Court of Appeals has overturned over $1 billion in damage awards to victims of the state's 2020 wildfires, ruling that the trial court made an error in instructing the jury. The appeals court found that certain evidence presented at trial, particularly related to causation, did not necessarily apply to every member of the class. The ruling sends the case back to the lower court, potentially requiring it to be retried as separate actions for each fire or as individual trials for each plaintiff.

Why it matters

This decision represents a major victory for PacifiCorp, the utility company held liable for the wildfires, which had faced the prospect of bankruptcy due to the mounting damage awards. However, it is a significant setback for thousands of wildfire victims who have been waiting years to resolve their claims against the utility.

The details

The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that the Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge erred by instructing the jury that they could assume all the evidence presented at trial about the causation and liability for four separate wildfires applied to all members of the class, which includes thousands of separate victims spread around the state. The jury had previously found PacifiCorp grossly negligent and reckless for failing to turn off power amid a severe windstorm during Labor Day weekend 2020, causing four catastrophic blazes. The appeals court concluded that the instruction was legally erroneous, as certain evidence, particularly related to causation, did not necessarily apply to every class member.

  • The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled on the case on April 8, 2026.
  • The original jury trial took place in 2023, resulting in over $1 billion in damage awards against PacifiCorp.

The players

PacifiCorp

A Portland-based utility company and subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that was found liable for the 2020 Oregon wildfires.

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Steffan Alexander

The judge who presided over the original trial and gave the jury instruction that was found to be erroneous by the appeals court.

Theodore Boutrous

A prominent California lawyer who argued PacifiCorp's appeal before the Oregon Court of Appeals.

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What’s next

The case will now be sent back to the lower court, where the judge may have to reconsider whether a single class of plaintiffs is appropriate. PacifiCorp will likely seek to have the over $1 billion in damage awards set aside and stop the ongoing damage trials. The plaintiffs' attorneys could also appeal the appellate ruling to the Oregon Supreme Court.

The takeaway

This ruling highlights the complexities and challenges of managing large-scale class action lawsuits, particularly in cases involving multiple incidents with varying evidence. It also underscores the high stakes for both the utility company and the thousands of wildfire victims seeking compensation for their losses.