PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland General Electric (PGE) and Legacy Property Management, LLC are facing a $375 million wrongful death lawsuit after three family members were killed by a live power line during a winter storm in January 2024.
The lawsuit, filed on September 19 in Multnomah County Circuit Court, alleges both companies were negligent in preventing the tragedy, which left a nine-month-old baby without his parents.
The Deadly Incident
The electrocutions occurred on January 17, 2024, outside the Columbia Vista Apartments near Northeast 122nd Avenue and Siskiyou Street in Portland’s Russell neighborhood.
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Authorities said a tree branch snapped under the weight of ice and fell onto a power line. The line then collapsed onto a Ford Expedition parked near a steep, icy driveway. Inside the vehicle were 23-year-old Tajaliayh Briggs, 25-year-old DaVonte Nash, and their nine-month-old son.
According to the lawsuit, the fallen power line failed to de-energize, causing the SUV to catch fire and fill with smoke.
Nash attempted to escape with his child but slipped on the ice and slid into the energized wire, suffering fatal electrocution. Briggs, attempting to reach them, also slipped and was killed in the same manner.
Briggs’ brother, Ta-Ronn Briggs, rushed to help the baby but also fell on the icy slope and was electrocuted.
All three adults died at the scene.
Child Saved by Neighbor
Amid the chaos, 18-year-old neighbor Majiah Washington called 911 and bravely pulled the baby to safety, narrowly avoiding the electrified area. The infant was treated for injuries but survived.
Washington later told investigators the scene was “horrific” and that she acted instinctively to save the child.
Allegations Against PGE
The lawsuit accuses Portland General Electric of negligence in both the installation and operation of the power line and utility pole.
Specifically, the complaint claims PGE:
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Improperly installed the line and pole.
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Failed to implement proper fusing levels, allowing the line to stay energized after falling.
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Did not adequately maintain equipment to prevent hazards during severe weather.
By failing to de-energize the line, the plaintiffs argue, PGE created a deadly situation that directly led to the deaths of Briggs, Nash, and Ta-Ronn Briggs.
Allegations Against Legacy Property Management
The lawsuit also targets Legacy Property Management, which oversees the Columbia Vista Apartments. The family contends that Legacy:
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Neglected to regularly inspect the property.
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Failed to maintain safe walking conditions by not treating or clearing the icy driveway.
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Allowed unsafe conditions to persist, contributing to the chain of events that led to the deaths.
“Defendants PGE and Legacy Defendants have shown a reckless and outrageous indifference to a highly unreasonable risk of harm and have acted with a conscious indifference to the health, safety, and welfare of others,” the complaint states.
Damages Sought
The victims’ family is seeking $375 million in damages, citing the devastating emotional and financial toll of losing three loved ones in a single preventable incident.
The lawsuit calls for accountability from both companies, emphasizing that their alleged failures showed disregard for public safety during hazardous weather conditions.
No Comment From Defendants
Both PGE and Legacy Property Management declined to comment on the pending litigation when reached by reporters this week.
The lawsuit now moves forward in Multnomah County Circuit Court, where it is expected to draw significant public attention given the scale of the damages sought and the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths.
A Community Still Reeling
The Russell neighborhood continues to feel the effects of the tragedy months later. Residents say the deaths highlight the dangers of winter storms, aging infrastructure, and inadequate property maintenance.
For the victims’ family, the lawsuit represents both a pursuit of justice and an effort to prevent other families from enduring the same fate.
