Local News

Online Publisher John Oliver Riccio has asked a Josephine County Court Judge to vacate judgments in two libel lawsuits.

The Daily Courier reports Riccio blamed "mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect" for the orders of default and sizable judgements against him in two civil lawsuits brought by local politicians totaling over $500,000.

Riccio said he believed he had properly participated as a defendant after Commissioner Chris Barnett and former County Commissioner John West sued him in October and November 2024.

Both politicians sued Riccio for false publication, libel, and tortious interference. Judge Lauri R. Norman declared Riccio in default in both cases in June 2025, and ruled he would have to pay both West and Barnett's attorney fees and court costs.

Last week, Riccio filed objections to both attorney's fees, saying he hadn't been given the opportunity to contest the fees. He said Barnett and West had sent service papers to addresses where he didn't live and used an email different from the one he listed in his court pleadings.

Riccio said in his court filing that he has "diligently contacted numerous attorneys across the state of Oregon" to help in his case.