The latest trial against PacifiCorp over the 2020 wildfires has resulted in $60.7 million in awards to 10 fire survivors as the case moves toward accelerated trials in February.
On Wednesday afternoon, jurors in Multnomah County Circuit Court rendered their verdict in James et al vs. PacifiCorp following a trial that began Dec. 1.
Awards included $5.2 million in economic damages, $39.3 million in noneconomic damages, $11.1 million in punitive damages and $5.2 million for a wildfire caused by recklessness.
Individual awards ranged from $2 million to $8 million.
Damages in the case now total $633.5 million for 118 fire survivors, an average of $5.37 million per plaintiff. Roughly 2,000 claims remain pending before the court, representing the possibility of more than $11 billion in overall court awards.
One additional trial is scheduled for January of 2026 under the current schedule of roughly one trial per month. In February of 2026 the court will begin holding four trials per month in parallel to more speedily resolve claims.
If by January of 2027 parties have not reached a settlement, trials will double to eight per month until all claims are resolved, likely by March of 2028.
PacifiCorp was found liable in 2023 for negligently causing the Santiam, Echo Mountain Complex, South Obenchain and 242 fires over Labor Day 2020. The company denies wrongdoing and has appealed the verdict to the Oregon Court of Appeals.
PacifiCorp has also settled a number of claims including a $150 million to 1,434 class members announced Nov. 19. To date the company has settled for more than $1 billion with roughly 4,000 claimants, according to publicly available settlement records.
The next trial is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2026, for Theodore and Deana Freres and their associated businesses and trusts, and Frank Timber Resources, Inc., and its associated businesses. The Freres plaintiffs seek $1 million in economic damages and the Frank plaintiffs seek $11.98 million in economic damages, both for losses from the Santiam Fire.
