What Personal Property Evidence Do Oregon Wildfire Damages Trials Require?

Case Management Order 11 in the Oregon PacifiCorp wildfire litigation (James v. PacifiCorp) requires plaintiffs to produce supporting appraisals and personal property inventories at least 45 days before each scheduled damages trial.

Contents carry real weight in these trials. In the Phase I damages trials, personal property accounted for roughly 46% of plaintiffs' total property damages, with per-plaintiff contents damages ranging from about $19,654 to $788,375 depending on the household. With roughly 2,100 plaintiffs across about 161 trial groups still awaiting resolution, documentation quality affects a large number of pending cases.

The case is still moving

The Oregon Supreme Court granted review on June 25, 2026, after a Court of Appeals ruling in PacifiCorp's favor, with oral argument set for November 3, 2026. That appeal addresses how damages are measured in this litigation, so plaintiffs and counsel should confirm the current evidentiary standard with the court before a specific trial date rather than relying on older guidance.

Ember Wildfire Contents Appraisers prepares signed, evidence-linked personal property inventories built to the 45-day production deadline CMO 11 sets, with every value tied to a dated photo, video still, social post, or record, and disclosed assumptions where an item can no longer be inspected. If your trial group has a date on the calendar, request a contents appraisal and tell us when evidence needs to be produced.

For the underlying filings, see PacifiCorp's wildfire litigation page.