Inmate Sues Stephen King over Green Mile Similarities

Boston.com says James T. Richards, an inmate at the Norfolk Correctional Center in Dedham, Mass., is suing Stephen King over similarities between a book Richards wrote in 1988 and King's best-selling novel "The Green Mile."

Richards' book, "The Selling of the President -- 2000," features a Native American character named John Coffey who's blessed with magic healing powers. King's novel also features a character named John Coffey, and this character just happens to possess magic healing powers! Alas, the similarities fall by the wayside when it comes to the character's ethnicity, for King's Coffey is African American.

In his suit, Richards says he sent King a copy of his manuscript, but, oddly enough, he never heard back from the author.

Richards wants publisher Simon & Schuster to stop selling "The Green Mile" and he wants Warner Bros. to stop distributing the 1999 film adaptation. And, oh yeah, he also wants $10 million. -- Mac

Posted by Mac at January 4, 2005 05:47 PM