Oregon Bill to Impose Penalties on Utilities Delaying Wildfire Lawsuits Advances

Oregon bill to impose penalties on utilities delaying wildfire lawsuits advances

Ash and debris along Oregon Route 22 from property destroyed by the 2020 Labor Day weekend wildfires. (Photo courtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation/Flickr)Fred Cuozzo barely made it out of the South Obenchain Fire that burned through his home, barn, pumphouse and garage in Eagle Point, north of Medford, on Sept. 8, 2020. Three years later, PacifiCorp — owner of Oregon private utility Pacific Power — was found by a jury to have been …

Oregon Bill to Impose Penalties on Utilities Delaying Wildfire Lawsuits Advances

SALEM, OR – Fred Cuozzo barely made it out of the South Obenchain Fire that burned through his home, barn, pumphouse and garage in Eagle Point, north of Medford, on Sept. 8, 2020. Three years later, PacifiCorp — owner of Oregon private utility Pacific Power — was found by a jury to have been reckless and negligent in causing that fire and three others. In January 2024, a jury ordered the utility company to pay millions in damages to Cuozzo and n…