If you were impacted by the fire but do nothing, you will stay part of the suit and remain bound to the outcome of the trial, according to the website. That means they're bound to the result of the trial unless they decide to opt-out. Since there are so many people impacted by the four fires, the suit's website outlines details of the case and who might be impacted by the trial’s outcome.Īnyone impacted in the four wildfires - and live within the map of the impacted area - are part of the suit, even if they haven't taken legal action. No money would be awarded as a result of the case, but if the plaintiffs are successful and Pacific Power found negligent, a separate legal proceeding to determine damages would likely be set up. The case will move forward with a jury trial in April, centering on whether Oregon’s second-largest utility was at fault. More: ‘Missed opportunity?’ Records detail Forest Service response to Beachie Creek Fire before blowup ![]() Forest Service have not issued final investigation reports on any of the 10 Labor Day fires. The Statesman Journal reported last month that more than two years later, the Oregon Department of Forestry and U.S. The lawsuit is proceeding despite one critical piece of missing evidence: final investigation reports from the government agencies charged with determining the cause of the fires. In previous court filings the utility called the fires an "unavoidable accident or Act of God.” Pacific Power, which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc., denies the claims. The lawsuit alleges Pacific Power’s failure to maintain its power lines and shut down power during a historic east wind event on Labor Day night in 2020 led to the ignition of the fires that brought damage to homes, towns and businesses from the Santiam Canyon to the Oregon Coast Range to southwest Oregon. Plaintiffs’ lawyers are led by three law firms - Keller Rohrback, Stoll Berne and Edelson PC. ![]() Lawsuits began separately but were combined into one class action suit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland. ![]() More: Satellite maps show spread of Beachie Creek, Holiday Farm wildfires in Labor Day blowup The trial is scheduled to begin April 24. More: What really caused the Labor Day wildfires? What we know 2 years laterĪ court-approved website that provides details on the lawsuit, including who is automatically involved and how to opt-out, is now live. The outcome of the trial will impact anyone harmed by the fires, even if they haven’t taken legal action. Plaintiffs include owners of 2,500 properties burned in the Beachie Creek and Santiam Canyon fires, along with the Echo Mountain, 242 and South Obenchain fires. The trial date for a high-stakes class action lawsuit that blames Pacific Power for igniting four of Oregon’s Labor Day fires is set for April 2023.
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