Harper Lee, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "To Kill a Mockingbird" has sued her literary agent, claiming he tricked her into assigning the copyright on her book to him, Reuters reported. The lawsuit was filed in federal court against Samuel Pinkus, the son-in-law of Lee's long-term agent, Eugene Winick, who had represented her for more than 40 years. In 2002, Winick became ill, and Pinkus diverted several of his clients to his own company, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit claimed that Pinkus "engaged in a scheme to dupe" Lee in 2007 into assigning her "To Kill a Mockingbird" copyright without any payment when the author was 80.
Lee had been suffering from declining hearing, eyesight and no memory of agreeing to relinquish her rights or signing the agreement, courts papers say.
Pinkus is alleged to have transferred the rights to secure himself "irrevocable" interest in the income derived from Lee's book.
The lawsuit asked the court to assign any rights in the book, which is owned by Pinkus or any entities controlled by him to the author. It ask that any commissions Pinkus received since the 2007 date be returned to her.
Pinkus in recent years has not provided royalty statements to explain money earned by the book, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit also alleged Pinkus failed to respond to offers by publisher HarperCollins to discuss licensing e-book rights and did not respond to the publisher's request for assistance related to the 50th anniversary of the publishing of "To Kill A Mockingbird."
The 1960 classic, which has sold more than 30 million book is the only novel Lee published in her life, and has rarely been seen in public, lives in Monroeville, Alabama.
He also sought to avoid paying legal obligations he owed to his father-in-law's company for royalties, according to the lawsuit.
It is further alleged that Mr Pinkus failed to respond to offers on e-book rights and a request for assistance related to the book's 50th anniversary.
