Attorney General's News Release

December 22, 1999

IKON pays $500,000 to state to settle Nixon's suit for breach of block grant terms

Jefferson City, Mo. — A little library in the Ozarks will have the support of Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon in its "David v. Goliath" legal battle against New York publishing giant HarperCollins. The Wright County Library Board has sued to recover the income from copyrights willed to it by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the beloved author of the "Little House" children's book series.

Attorney General Nixon filed today in U.S. District Court in Springfield to intervene on the side of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Library in Mansfield, Mo., and the Wright County Library Board in a suit filed by the board in October against the publishers and the current owners of the copyrights. In its suit, the board asked to have the library declared the sole and legitimate beneficiary of Wilder's estate, which has been estimated to be in the millions. In addition, Nixon has filed a suit in state court alleging fraud in the probate estate of Wilder.

Wilder wrote the Little House series from her home in Mansfield, 35 miles east of Springfield, where she settled in 1894. She began writing at age 65 at the suggestion of her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane.

"It appears that the library board has been hoodwinked out of the opportunity to have a first-class library," Nixon said. "Instead, they are operating on a shoestring budget in a drafty 2,000-square foot building in much need of repair. The library board is right in contesting this scam, and we are ready to use the power of the state to even the playing field for the citizens of Wright County."

In her will, Wilder directed that the copyrights for her books be given to the library after the death of her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. However, Lane, in her will, left her estate to her friend, a lawyer named Roger MacBride. MacBride made no mention of the library's right to Wilder's copyrights when settling Lane's estate and told the library it was entitled to only a little more than $28,000 in royalties. By 1972, MacBride had assumed the copyrights to all eleven of Wilder's books. MacBride, who was the Libertarian Party presidential candidate in 1972, died in 1995.

"By stealing Wilder's copyrights and using them for his personal gain, MacBride not only ripped off the library, he cheated the citizens of Wright County by denying them the benefits of a great library and an appropriate memorial to a beloved children's author," Nixon said.

Wright County Library Director Carrie Cline said assistance of the state is appropriate.

"We welcome the participation of the Attorney General and the expertise of his staff," Cline said. "We are glad he is bringing the full power of the state to pursue and protect the interests of the people of Wright County and all Missouri."

Nixon's suit in probate court in Wright County alleges fraud against the MacBride estate, including Joe Cox, the representative of the estate, and Harry Dingman, personal representative of Wilder's estate. State law authorizes the Attorney General to represent the people of Missouri in matters related to charitable organizations that benefit the public, such as public libraries.

Nixon says MacBride and Dingman defrauded the library and the Wright County Probate Court by representing to the board that $28,011 were the only royalties to which it was entitled. In 1972 they reopened the Wilder estate to renew Wilder's copyrights and then transferred the copyrights to MacBride, unbeknownst to the library.

Nixon is asking the court to establish a trust and order the defendants to pay the people of Missouri, through the library, the amounts owed to them, including the royalties from Wilder's 11 books, revenue from the original works, literary and dramatic adaptations, merchandising and other income-producing activities.

"Laura Ingalls Wilder was a generous woman who cared about her community," Nixon said. "It is my responsibility to see the money from her estate benefits the citizens and not a few greedy individuals."

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

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