PacifiCorp Reaches $125M Settlement with 93 Oregon Wineries over 2020 Wildfire Smoke Damage

PacifiCorp has agreed to a $125 million settlement with 93 Oregon wineries and vineyards, primarily in the Willamette Valley, over claims that smoke damage from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires harmed their grape crops and wine sales. The lawsuits alleged that PacifiCorp was negligent by failing to shut off power lines despite warnings about extreme fire danger, contributing to the ignition and spread of the fires. This smoke damage caused grapes and wine to acquire undesirable flavors, leading to lost sales and reputational harm for the wineries. The settlement resolves multiple lawsuits that were seeking nearly $180 million in damages and was announced after PacifiCorp's attempts to dismiss the cases were unsuccessful. The utility has also settled thousands of other wildfire-related claims in Oregon since 2020 and stated it is glad to have resolved this matter. Wineries praised PacifiCorp's efforts to improve safety practices to minimize future wildfire risks.