Lawsuit Settled in Case Involving a Handwriting Columnist

By: E&P Staff A handwriting analyst won a settlement in a lawsuit that involved another handwriting analyst who has been a self-syndicated columnist.

The Daily Press of Newport News, Va., reported that Cina Wong sued for copyright infringement after she learned that the "Sex, Lies, and Handwriting" book contained analysis she had done about the JonBenet Ramsey case. But the book did not credit Wong.

Defendants included publisher Simon & Schuster, author Michelle Dresbold (the aforementioned columnist), and co-author James Kwalwasser.

Wong -- a certified document examiner based in Virginia -- received a cash settlement of an undisclosed amount and a promise that future editions of the book would not contain her Ramsey-related handwriting report and would not mention the case on the book's jacket.

"It's been a tough fight for me considering Simon & Schuster is a large, well-funded conglomerate," said Wong, as quoted in the Daily Press story by Peter Dujardin.

A Simon & Schuster spokesman said the suit had "no merit" but that the company settled "in the interest of moving on."

Ironically, Dresbold four years ago was involved in a case where her "Handwriting Doctor" column was plagiarized (E&P Online, Aug. 6, 2003).