The SFWA-sponsored Writer Beware web site has won a significant counter-lawsuit against scam agent Robert M. Fletcher and his Writers’ Literary Agency (also known as The Literary Agency Group, and several others).
Writer Beware is operated by Ann Crispin and Victoria Strauss, as an on-line resource for writers to warn them away from publishing scams. One of the scammers they warned writers about was Fletcher and his various companies. In early 2008, Fletcher brought suit against them, to have them remove the negative commentary from the web site. When Fletcher failed to provide any evidence, give depositions, or otherwise prosecute the case, it was dismissed with prejudice in March of this year. Crispin and Strauss filed a countersuit seeking to recover court and legal fees. In a ruling dated 31 July 2009, the court found “the claims asserted by the plaintiffs [Fletcher and his company] to be wholly insubstantial, frivolous and not advanced in good faith,” and awarded Crispin and Strauss the expenses they sought.
For more on the case, and if you feel you’re a writer who has been scammed by Fletcher & Co., see this Writer Beware entry.
Announcing their victory on SFWA’s web site, Crisping said “For over a year, Victoria and I have been working with our attorney in Boston, giving him large boxes of documentation regarding Robert Fletcher and his many aliases, companies and activities aimed at separating writers from their hard-earned money. This is a victory for writers worldwide! And yes, we’ve gotten complaints and inquires about Mr. Fletcher’s claims and operations from writers in Australia, Finland, Israel and many other countries—even Nigeria!”
SFWA President Russell Davis said “This ruling is vindication for Ann, Victoria and Writer Beware. Writer Beware is one of the most important and valuable services SFWA provides, and the overwhelming victory in this case should serve as a warning to others who would consider filing frivolous lawsuits in the future.”
Writer Beware is a publishing industry watchdog group sponsored by Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America which “shines a light into the dark corners of the shadow-world of literary scams, schemes and pitfalls.”
Ann Crispin and Victoria Strauss with the Writer Beware site came to my notice too late. Since learning about Writers Literary Agency and AEG, I begun the quest to secure another agent and publisher. My novel, Long Journey to Rneadal (Nay-dal)is a romantic action adventure in space. In addition, I may never recover my “joint venture” investment. Still, I want to thank Ann Crispin and Victoria Strauss for all of their work to warn other authors before they fall prey to Robert M. Fletcher and his Writers’ Literary Agency (also known as The Literary Agency Group, and several others).