PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A third group of wineries filed a lawsuit against PacifiCorp in Multnomah County on Thursday over the utility company's role in the Labor Fires of 2020.
The lawsuit seeks over $4 million and was filed by six wineries, including lead plaintiff Lumos Wine Company, Flaneur Wines LLC., Flanerie Vineyard LLC., Kings Grade Vineyards LLC., West Hills Stable & Vineyard LLC., and Pudding River Wine Cellars LLC.
This marks the latest lawsuit local wineries have brought against PacifiCorp, with attorneys from Baker Hostetler law firm representing 91 wineries in lawsuits against the utility company – including three cases in Multnomah County, and one in Yamhill, Marion, and Washington counties.
The lawsuit alleges that PacifiCorp was negligent for not shutting off powerlines despite red flag weather warnings from the National Weather Service and warnings from state officials -- leading their powerlines to ignite and wildfire smoke damaging the plaintiff's grapes and wine.
Robert Julian, an attorney representing the wineries, told KOIN 6 News on Friday that the Labor Day Fires brought "devastation" for small wineries, adding, “they live pretty much year to year, and losing the 2020 vintage took a big chunk out of their 2021-22 profits.”
“It's in our interest that PacifiCorp stays in business,” Julian explained. “I'm very sensitive to a lot of the issues that PacifiCorp has raised about helping them come up with a good fire protection plan and help from the legislature so that they can stay in business and pay off these verdicts as they come down, and they will keep coming down.”
The first trial in Yamhill County is scheduled for April, followed by a trial set for August in Marion County for the Willamette Valley Vineyards case.
The plaintiffs' attorneys with Baker Hostetler are also holding town halls Nov. 19 and Dec. 10, 2024, in McMinnville for potential new clients to learn about the case, Julian said, noting they estimate another 800 wineries are eligible to join the wildfire litigation.
When reached for comment by KOIN 6 News, PacifiCorp released the following statement:
The 2020 wildfires were undeniably tragic. To date, PacifiCorp has settled more than 2,000 claims related to the 2020 wildfires. PacifiCorp has resolved and will continue to resolve all reasonable claims. In total, more than 2,000 wildfires burned across Oregon in 2020, 12 of which started on Labor Day. The reality is that the entire state was engulfed in smoke from fires not started by PacifiCorp’s equipment, including the lightning-caused Beachie Creek fire that tore through the Santiam Canyon.
PacifiCorp has a robust wildfire mitigation plan that has been in place since 2019. This plan was approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. PacifiCorp has added in-house meteorologists, installed hundreds of weather stations that monitor fire conditions in real time, and continues to improve its ability to provide safe, reliable power to Oregon customers.
PacifiCorp has provided affordable, essential utility services to Oregonians for over 100 years. The company’s ability to provide these essential services is being threatened by spurious lawsuits like these and excessive wildfire damages pursued by out of state plaintiff attorneys who have a substantial financial stake in these outcomes.
