The Oregon Supreme Court is set to review a class-action case that could leave Berkshire Hathaway utility PacifiCorp facing tens of billions of dollars in damages. The case centers on PacifiCorp’s alleged role in the catastrophic 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Lower courts had found the company negligent for failing to de-energize its power lines during a severe windstorm.
In April 2026, an Oregon appeals court reversed a lower-court verdict over a procedural error involving a jury instruction and sent the case back to trial court. The plaintiffs then appealed to the state’s highest court.
PacifiCorp has settled numerous claims related to the fires, with payouts totaling more than $2.2 billion. The company still faces significant potential liability in the ongoing class action.