King Family Feud Could Break Book Deal

ATLANTA -- A sibling feud could derail a deal for a book on Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King Jr.

The couple's three children are at odds over whether to turn over documents for the book to New York-based publisher Penguin Group.

Penguin agreed to pay $1.2 million plus royalties to King Inc., which controls the civil rights icon's intellectual property.

Penguin said it would terminate the contract and demand the return of a $300,000 advance if it does not receive photos, personal writing and letters within seven business days.

Two King children maintain their mother no longer wanted to work with the woman writing the book, while a third signed the book contract.

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Lawsuit: 2 King Children of Unfairly Used Center

Posted: 2008-10-07 10:52:53

ATLANTA - Two of Martin Luther King Jr.'s children have been sued by the institution their mother founded, accused by their brother of using The King Center for personal gain.

Dexter King, the center's chairman, filed the lawsuit Monday against his brother and sister, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King. He says his siblings have established foundations in direct competition with The King Center for Nonviolent Change.

Dexter King also says in the lawsuit that his brother used the center without permission to meet with then-presidential candidate John Edwards in January 2008.

A King family matter previously played out in the media when Bernice and Martin Luther King III sued their brother in July. They wanted to force him to open the books of their father's estate.