Oregon wildfires

Electricity utility PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $299 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 463 individuals who were affected by the devastating wildfires that took place in southern Oregon in 2020. The settlement comes after PacifiCorp lost a similar lawsuit earlier this year. The utility faced various lawsuits accusing it of negligence for not shutting off power during a windstorm, resulting in multiple wildfires. The settlement brings an end to three years of legal battles related to the Archie Creek fire. This is a smaller settlement compared to the damages awarded in a previous case. PacifiCorp plans to appeal the previous verdict, and more trials are scheduled for next year. The settlement helps the utility avoid the risk of facing further trials and paying additional damages.