Berkshire's victory in court may help its electric utility avoid losses worth billions

Oregon Appeals Court Orders New Review in PacifiCorp Wildfire Case

This week, the Oregon Court of Appeals sided with PacifiCorp, determining that the judge overseeing a 2023 trial incorrectly instructed jurors to treat evidence of wildfire losses experienced by 17 homeowners as representative for thousands of other plaintiffs in the class action. As a result, the appellate court has returned the so-called James class action lawsuit to the lower court for further evaluation.

In the original 2023 trial, a jury concluded that the Berkshire-owned utility was responsible for not shutting off power lines during a severe windstorm, which contributed to four major wildfires and extensive property destruction. The jury found the company liable for its negligence.