Apr. 9, 2026
Oregon court tosses wildfire verdict over jury instruction error
Ruling finds mismatch between classwide treatment and individualized causation proof, overturning verdict against PacifiCorp
The Oregon Court of Appeals on Wednesday overturned a multibillion-dollar class action verdict against PacifiCorp arising from the deadly 2020 Labor Day wildfires, holding that a single jury instruction improperly allowed jurors to apply causation evidence across thousands of claims -- a ruling that could reshape how Oregon courts manage complex, multi-incident class actions.
The three-judge panel in Salem said a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge erred by instructing jurors tha...
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