Oregon

PacifiCorp Ordered to Pay $42 Million in Damages for Devastating Oregon Wildfires

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GATES, Oregon — PacifiCorp, a unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, has been ordered by an Oregon jury to pay over $42 million to 10 victims of the devastating wildfires that occurred on Labor Day 2020. This verdict is the latest development in a series of litigations that are expected to result in the electric utility being held accountable for billions of dollars in damages. The jury’s decision last June found PacifiCorp liable for negligence in failing to cut power to its 600,000 customers despite warnings from top fire officials. The jury concluded that the … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds First Amendment Rights, Rules in Favor of Oregon Church in Homeless Meal Service Case

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Brookings, Oregon – A federal judge has ruled in favor of a church in a First Amendment case, preventing a southern Oregon city from shutting down the church’s homeless meal service. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Clarke deemed an ordinance passed by the city of Brookings to be a violation of the religious freedom rights of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. The church has been providing meals to the homeless since 2009. The ordinance required a permit to serve free food in residential areas and limited the church’s meal services to only two days a week. In … Read more

Oregon Passes Landmark Stalking Bill to Protect Victims from Emerging Technology

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St. Helens, Oregon – The Oregon House and Senate have recently passed a bill aimed at updating the state’s stalking laws to address the advances in technology that weren’t accounted for when the original laws were written. The bill, known as House Bill 4156, is currently awaiting Governor Tina Kotek’s signature and is set to take effect on July 1, 2024. The motivation behind the bill’s modernization comes in part from the efforts of St. Helens Police Detective Sergeant Matt Smith. Smith’s involvement with the bill began when a local stalking case was brought to … Read more

Oregon Public Records Advocates Defeat Attempt to Create Broad Taxpayer Information Exemption

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Portland, Oregon – Public records advocates in Oregon have successfully campaigned against legislation that would have created a new exemption to state transparency laws, potentially limiting access to important taxpayer information. House Bill 4031 contained a provision that sought to prevent local governments from disclosing any taxpayer information they possess. The proposed exemption, which faced strong opposition from advocates, raised concerns about the potential impact on government accountability and transparency. Critics argued that the provision would have created significant barriers for journalists, researchers, and the public in accessing vital information. The victory for public records … Read more