PacifiCorp could be on the hook for billions after jury verdict in devastating Oregon wildfires

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: AP

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A jury in Oregon on Monday found the electric utility PacifiCorp responsible for causing devastating fires during Labor Day weekend in 2020, ordering the company to pay tens of millions of dollars to 17 homeowners who sued and finding it liable for broader damages that could push the total award into the billions.

The Portland utility is one of several owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska-based investment conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. The property owners, suing on behalf of a class of thousands of others, alleged that PacifiCorp negligently failed to shut off power to its 600,000 customers during a windstorm, despite warnings from then-Gov. Kate Brown’s chief-of-staff and top fire officials, and that its power lines were responsible for multiple blazes.

There has been no official cause determined for the Labor Day fires, which killed nine people, burned more than 1,875 square miles (4,856 square kilometers) in Oregon, and destroyed upward of 5,000 homes and structures. The blazes together were one of the worst natural disasters in Oregon history.

In a written statement, lawyers for the plaintiffs called the decision historic and said it “paves the way for potentially billions of dollars in further damages for the class members.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-utility-company-berkshire-hathaway-warren-buffett-ff26bcf69a111e7343e7f806c6c7c937

[Alexander Of Assyria]

1. Juries are the core of rule of Law. Corporations and monsters know the rule of law can cage them!

hold their power in check.

Of course they hate anything overruling their rule…why can’t such people realize cooperation and collaboration can be more profitable than constant conflict with other people?

[LizBeth]

2. It was the apocalypse living in that during covid. I was wearing mask to be able to walk

dog rather than covid. Had to wash dog's paws after every walk. Really freaky. Just part of the reality in the NW

[WheelWalker]

3. I had a wilderness suppression crew in the '80's.

The only structures we had to protect were natural resources and once in a while a wilderness shelter. Fire in the forest-urban interface is another experience altogether. Firefighters earn that extra quarter-time hazard pay and then some.

[LizBeth]

6. I was in Mammonth area '80's. Young and fun so we hung with the fire crews lots.

Totally respected and admired them out there doing what they did.

[Talitha]

4. IIRC didn't PG&E's crappy lines cause hell on earth too?

And come to think of it PG&E was featured in the film Erin Brockavich. Damn these big companies.

[clouds]

5. The fossil fuel industry is more accountable

These fires changed the landscape so much that I don’t even recognize highways I’ve traveled for 55 years. I knew it was going to be bad, and I held off traveling the Santiam Pass because I didn’t want to see it until I was forced to last month for work.
. I wish I hadn’t. I wish I had traveled a different pass.
The worst part is all of the invasive weeds that are taking over. Scotch broom, nap weed. It’s totally displacing all of the natural native species. The forest service office in Detroit doesn’t seem to really care because it’s encroaching on their actual property in Detroit. They’re not doing anything to stop it.. it’s all gone to seed already.
Oregon will never be the same.
The McKenzie pass is just as bad.

[Farmer-Rick]

7. It was a stupid idea to privatize electric companies

"PacifiCorp negligently failed to shut off power to its 600,000 customers during a windstorm, despite warnings from then-Gov. Kate Brown’s chief-of-staff and top fire officials, and that its power lines were responsible for multiple blazes."

Enron, California fires, Texas freezing out their citizens, fires due to bad maintenance and negligent actions, poor back up plans in case of a surge in demand, these could all be avoided if the government had been running these utilities like a they run police and fire departments. But because private corporations are much more concerned about profits, they make stupid decisions in emergencies, safety issues and back up resources.

They should all be turned back to local governments to run. Yeah, local governments can make stupid decisions too but at least they can be voted out when enough people are complaining.

A corporation's priority is profits. A government's priority should be people. A good government addresses the needs and wants of its citizens. A good corporation only cares about profits. So a good corporation will allow fires, safety problems, insufficient supply, to fester because it saves them money and profits. They don't care how many people die or lose their possessions. It is not in a corporations best interest to care.