Susman Godfrey LLP won a $62 million jury verdict on behalf of 10 wildfire survivors against PacifiCorp, an Oregon utility company that was found liable for starting the historic 2020 Labor Day fires that burned more than 1 million acres, killing 11 people and destroying countless homes and property.
The trial followed the 2023 verdict in a separate class action in which PacifiCorp was found to have acted with gross negligence and held liable for damages caused by the wildfires after the company refused to de-energize its power lines during a historic wind event. The resulting fires spread rapidly throughout the state.
The jury awarded the 10 survivors, represented by Susman Godfrey, $39.3 million in non-economic damages. PacifiCorp had previously agreed to pay $5.15 million in economic damages, and consistent with the liability findings from the 2023 class action against the utility company, the court ruled to double the economic damages to $10.3 million and apply a 25% punitive multiplier to the economic and non-economic damages for each plaintiff, bringing the total award to $62 million.
According to the complaints, the survivors endured severe emotional distress and mental suffering as a result of the fires as they evacuated their homes under life-threatening conditions that caused injuries and destroyed their homes.
“Our clients have suffered devastating losses as a result of PacifiCorp’s reckless disregard,” said Shawn Rabin, a partner at Susman Godfrey representing the plaintiffs. “This verdict is about more than compensation for the tremendous hardships our clients have endured. It provides them with resources to rebuild their lives and the justice they deserve.”
In addition to Mr. Rabin, the trial team included Susman Godfrey partners Bill Carmody and Michael Kelso and associate Dustin Fire.
The consolidated cases are In re: PacifiCorp in the 4th Judicial District Court of Oregon.
