Charlottesville-area novelist John Grisham has been named in a libel lawsuit over his book The Innocent Man. The best-selling author, along with the book’s publisher, Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, are two of several defendants. The suit seeks more than $75,000 in relief, as well as a jury trial, according to the Associated Press.
The libel suit is being brought by two men portrayed in Grisham’s book: Pontotoc County District Attorney Bill Peterson and a former Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent, Gary Rodgers. The plaintiffs claim that the defendants conspired to commit libel, generate publicity by placing the two men in a false light and intentionally inflict emotional distress. Grisham did not return calls for comment.
John Grisham has been smacked with a libel suit seeking more than $75,000 in damages. In a letter to one of theâ¯plaintiffs, the Charlottesville-area writer said one lawsuit per nonfiction book sounds about right.
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The Innocent Man details the conviction and eventual exoneration of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz in the murder of Debbie Sue Carter. Peterson prosecuted the men for the murder, and Rodgers headed the investigation.
On Peterson’s personal website, he posts images of letters sent to and from Grisham. “F.Y.I., I have bought your book and at the writing of this letter I am on page 28,” writes Peterson. “In those 28 pages I have found two inaccuracies. I have been informed that you state publically [sic] that you expect to be sued—have you libeled someone in your book?”
Grisham responded via faxed letter by saying, “I’m sure you will find more than two errors. Such is the nature of nonfiction.” He continues: “No, I have not stated publicly that I expect to be sued, so your source is wrong. However, a lawsuit (or threat of one) per book is about average.”
But Peterson wasn’t done. He wrote Grisham a second time, saying, “Having now finished the book, I do not believe your ‘mistakes are inevitable’ claim can explain the total misrepresentation of some parts of this case. I will shortly follow up this letter to point out some of your ‘mistakes.’”
Grisham’s response was curt.
“I have no desire to re-hash the facts and bicker about who’s right and who’s wrong. I do not read reviews, fan letters, hate letters, and I will read nothing else from you.
“Save yourself some time. Lose my address and fax number.”
The libel suit is not the only lawsuit Grisham is facing. Katharine Almy, a Charlottesville resident and mother of a St. Anne’s-Belfield School student, is suing Grisham and two others after he accused her of writing letters to the three that make unseemly accusations.—Scott Weaver
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