I’m Looking for a Lawyer to Help me Sue a Book Publisher

[Time for change]

In 1997 I published a book that I wrote, titled "Philosophy in Epidemiology and Public Health", through Nova Science Publishers, Inc. I have a signed copy of our contract, which stipulates, among other things, that I am supposed to be paid royalties beginning with the sale of the 201st book, and that prior to that I'm at least supposed to get annual statements from the publisher regarding the sales of my book. However, despite repeated requests, the publisher has never honored my requests for accountings of book sales, nor even returned any of my correspondence.

I cannot determine how many copies have been sold, but the fact that it is still selling after 14 years leads me to believe that it couldn’t be doing all that badly. If I Google my name and the title of the book in quotes I get 729 hits, which seems to me to suggest that it is selling pretty well after all these years:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&biw=1259&bih=626&q=%22philosophy+in+epidemiology+and+public+health%22+dale+tavris&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq= . For example, Amazon currently has 11 new and 3 used books in stock:
http://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Epidemiology-Public-Health-Tavris/dp/1560724269

If you are a lawyer and think you might be interested in taking this case on a commission basis, please contact me so that we can discuss.

Thank you.

[WhiteTara]

1. I'm not a lawyer, but

Good luck! May you win big!

[Time for change]

2. Thank you

I should have done this years ago.

[starroute]

3. The Science Fiction Writers of America have a page of general advice for writers

http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/legal/

An initial consultation with an attorney doesn’t have be a financial burden. In the USA, the American Bar Association Lawyer Referral Network can put you in touch with an attorney who will evaluate your situation for free or for a nominal fee. (The cost of proceeding beyond the evaluation will be explained at the evaluation, and is set by individual agreement.) For example, the Chicago Bar Association will provide a referral by telephone for a $30 fee, all of which goes toward funding the referral program.

Also in the USA, LawHelp.org helps low and moderate income people find free legal aid programs in their communities, and answers to questions about their legal rights.

Many US states and major metropolitan areas–New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and others–also have Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts organizations, with referral services geared to helping people who work in the arts (the link above lists VLA organizations state-by-state, but a Google search on “Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts” will bring up many local VLA websites). Panel attorneys will often offer reduced-fee services (and sometimes pro bono services) after the initial consultation as described above. Additionally, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in New York City operates the Art Law Line telephone service (212-319-2910), which can be called by anyone with an arts-related legal question.

[Time for change]

4. Thank you very much

If a lawyer on this forum doesn't express an interest in the case within a couple of days I will take your advice.

[JDPriestly]

5. Call your local bar association. Ask for a list of lawyers. Call the names on the list.

Do it as soon as possible. Don't waste any time. Time is important in the law.

[Time for change]

6. Thank you

I will find someone to take care of this. I've waited way too long as it is.

[OLLA]

7. Bad experience with Nova Science

I have a similar situation: I just received the statement from 2010 indicating that only 77 books were sold. I know however that the first print of the book was sold out December last year, and the second print was sold out in March this year. When I requested to send me the information on the size of the print in each case, they went silent and stopped responding to my e-mails.