McCollum
TALAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney Bill McCollum on Thursday filed a lawsuit against a Boca Raton-based literary agency over allegations the company defrauded potential writers.
According to the complaint, Writer's Literary Agency and owner Robert Fletcher targeted aspiring writers through 20 different Web sites, along with various companies posing as literary agents and publishers.
Fletcher then charged writers as much as $600 for various editing and marketing services. He claimed the fees were paid for book sales when in fact they were paid for up-front by the authors, according to McCollum.
The complaint alleges Fletcher misled victims about the costs of the fees as well as the promised results.
A state investigation revealed Fletcher had recently began acting as a publisher with no prior background as a literary agent, as well as having used 10 different business aliases.
The lawsuit is seeking an injunctive relief against Robert Fletcher and his associates, as well as his many businesses, prohibiting further business activities in the field of literary agencies or publishers.
The state is also seeking full restitution for all victims, up to $10,000 in civil penalties and reimbursement for legal fees.