Mass Wildfire Cases Threaten to Drag On Forever, Judge Takes Steps to Speed Resolution

Strategic Insights -

For over half a decade, the aftermath of the massive wildfires in 2020 has been tied up in court, with approximately 2,000 cases still pending against PacifiCorp, the electric company linked to the disaster. In his 1852 novel "Bleak House," Charles Dickens exposed the problems of long-running legal cases, and the situation with the wildfires has eerily paralleled the fictional Jarndyce and Jarndyce case, which dragged on for centuries. Judge Steffan Alexander of Multnomah County has been taking steps to move the cases forward, but more needs to be done to avoid further delaying justice.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PacifiCorp case, involving approximately 2,000 plaintiffs, has been ongoing for over five years, with a significant number of claimants yet to receive compensation.
  • A 2023 mass case led to a substantial jury award for around 1,500 plaintiffs, highlighting the recklessness and gross negligence of PacifiCorp.
  • The U.S. Department of Justice has also filed a case against PacifiCorp.
  • Judge Steffan Alexander has introduced a new case management order aimed at speeding up trials, allowing for four damages trials per month, starting in February 2026, and doubling that number to eight per month in January 2027.
  • The estimated damages at stake amount to approximately $10 billion.
  • Some experts speculate that PacifiCorp is trying to outlast the plaintiffs, as delays in resolution could save the company millions.
  • Changes in laws and procedures, such as the use of special masters to develop sweeping resolutions, could help resolve the case more efficiently.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 2,000 cases are still pending against PacifiCorp, with a significant number of claimants yet to receive compensation.
  • Around 300 plaintiff verdicts have been delivered, but appeals may continue to delay compensation.
  • The estimated damages at stake amount to approximately $10 billion.
  • PacifiCorp has been linked to Berkshire Hathaway Energy, one of billionaire Warren Buffett's properties.
  • At least one estimate suggests that 50 of the original plaintiffs in the PacifiCorp cases have died since the cases were first filed.

Sources:

  • In his 1852 novel "Bleak House," Charles Dickens exposed the problems of long-running legal cases. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarndyce_and_Jarndyce)
  • Judge Steffan Alexander's new case management order aims to speed up trials. (https://www.canyonweekly.com/2025/08/01/judge-approves-accelerated-trials-in-pacificorp-lawsuit/)
  • The Snake River Basin Adjudication, which resolved over 150,000 water rights in Idaho, was settled within three decades. (http://www.srba.state.id.us/DOC/BROCH1.HTM)
  • A massive case in 2023 led to a substantial jury award for around 1,500 plaintiffs, declaring PacifiCorp showed recklessness and gross negligence. (https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2025/08/02/judge-in-pacificorp-wildfire-trials-wants-to-quadruple-the-courts-pace/)
  • The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a case against PacifiCorp. (https://www.oregonjournalismproject.org/after-the-inferno)
  • The Oregon wildfires of 2020 left massive damage in its wake, with causes including housing sprawl and climate change. (https://www.oregonjournalismproject.org/after-the-inferno)