PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is facing existential financial and operational threats due to ongoing litigation stemming from the 2020 wildfires in Oregon. The company has already incurred nearly $500 million in damages from 90 plaintiffs, with over 1,900 additional claims pending, totaling an estimated $2.7 billion in probable losses. A Portland judge’s aggressive trial schedule—160 jury trials over 2.5 years—risks crippling the utility’s finances, jeopardizing its ability to serve hundreds of thousands of customers in the western U.S. The company warns the trials could impose a 'crushing financial burden' and has sought emergency appeals to halt proceedings, citing risks to its operational viability. While PacifiCorp has paid over $1 billion in settlements, the cumulative legal and financial strain threatens its survival as a critical public utility. Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett has flagged wildfire liabilities as a systemic risk to utilities across multiple states, underscoring the broader industry crisis.