Willamette Valley Vineyards has sued PacifiCorp for $8.2 million after the 2020 wildfires allegedly caused irreversible damage to the quality of wine grapes throughout the region.
The Turner-based business filed suit in Marion County Circuit Court July 24, claiming soot and smoke from the fires tainted a “vast majority” of its 2020 vintages. WVV said it lost roughly $2.74 million in raw material and finished products, and argued damages should be tripled due to the defendant’s alleged recklessness.
PacifiCorp was served with notice of the suit July 31. As of press time, it had yet to file a response.
In June, a Portland jury found PacifiCorp liable for negligently causing fires throughout Oregon during high heat and wind conditions on Sept. 7, 2020. It awarded $87 million to fire survivors in the first phase of a class action suit that could result in billions of dollars in total damages. PacifiCorp said it will appeal and continues to deny wrongdoing.
In its suit, WVV included details from the class action trial, including the company’s “willful negligence” and efforts to destroy or conceal evidence.
Oregon wineries suffered significant losses from the 2020 wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research published by University of Oregon in 2021. Statewide grape yields were down 29% compared to 2019.
