Former Josephine County Commissioner John West was ordered by a Josephine County Judge to pay over $28,000 in fees to Lily Morgan.
According to the Daily Courier, Morgan, the lead petitioner in Wests recall campaign, was sued by West in December 2024. He alleged she misrepresented his position on six different grievances listed in the petition.
Morgan asked the court to strike West's lawsuit under the "anti-SLAPP" law, allowing early dismissal of lawsuits that appear as retaliation for free speech or petitions.
County Judge Robert S. Bain struck 5 of the claims West made, saying the grievances were matters of opinion. Bain found part of the 6th claim to factually inaccurate, where Morgan claimed West eliminated funding from law enforcement and public health.
The stricken claims were dismissed, and Judge Bain, in a separate move, said the court is required to award Morgan the attorney's fees and costs, totaling about $28,721.
Morgan has appealed the part of the claim she lost, and West's attorney said he intends to appeal the areas his client lost.
