Oregon Court Ruling Could Jeopardize $1B in Wildfire Victim Damages

PacifiCorp wins appeal, sending case back to lower court over jury instruction concerns.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:20pm by Ben Kaplan

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A photorealistic studio still-life featuring a stack of legal documents, a gavel, and a pair of glasses arranged on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the abstract corporate strategy and legal complexities surrounding the PacifiCorp wildfire case.A legal battle over wildfire damages exposes the complex corporate and judicial dynamics at play in the aftermath of Oregon's devastating 2020 natural disasters.Portland Today

An Oregon appeals court has sided with utility company PacifiCorp in a ruling that could potentially jeopardize over $1 billion in damages awarded to victims of the state's devastating 2020 wildfires. The court found that the trial court erred in instructing the jury that evidence presented about four different wildfires could be applied to all class members, and sent the case back to the lower court.

Why it matters

The 2020 Labor Day weekend fires in Oregon were among the worst natural disasters in the state's history, killing 11 people and destroying thousands of homes. This ruling could significantly impact the ability of wildfire victims to recover damages from PacifiCorp, which has been found liable for negligence in failing to cut power despite warnings from fire officials.

The details

The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that the trial court made a legal error in instructing the jury that evidence presented about four different wildfires could be applied to all class members, which included owners of over 2,000 damaged properties across a wide geographic area. The judges said this instruction was prejudicial to PacifiCorp. The case has now been sent back to the lower court, and it's unclear how it will move forward or if the plaintiffs will appeal to the state supreme court.

  • The 2020 Labor Day weekend fires occurred in September 2020.
  • The initial trial where PacifiCorp was found liable took place in 2023.
  • The Oregon Court of Appeals ruling was issued on April 9, 2026.

The players

PacifiCorp

A utility company that was found liable for negligence in the 2020 Oregon wildfires and ordered to pay over $1 billion in damages to victims.

Oregon Court of Appeals

The state appellate court that ruled in favor of PacifiCorp, sending the case back to a lower court over concerns about a jury instruction.

Wildfire Victims

A class of over 2,000 property owners who were awarded damages from PacifiCorp for losses sustained in the 2020 Oregon wildfires.

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What’s next

More than 1,000 class members have cases set for trial in 2026 and 2027, and it remains unclear how the case will move forward following the appellate court's ruling.

The takeaway

This ruling highlights the ongoing legal battles between utility companies and wildfire victims, and the challenges in ensuring fair compensation for those impacted by these devastating natural disasters. It raises questions about the appropriate methods for managing large-scale wildfire litigation and the rights of victims to recover damages.