A Florida best-selling author’s dispute against restaurant management company heads to trial in mid-August.
Randy Wayne White in July 2025 sued HM Restaurant Group LLC, claiming it was “repeatedly browbeating” him about reducing his royalties tied to the Doc Ford brand, a main character in many of his books.
A jury trial is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 18 in Lee County Circuit Court.
The restaurant company has denied the allegations.
“We are aware of the lawsuit and strongly disagree with the claims being made. HM Restaurant Group has a long-standing reputation for exceptional hospitality and being a trusted company and community partner,” the company said in a statement in July 2025.
Why is White suing HM Restaurant Group
The 16-page civil suit filed in Lee County Circuit Court alleges three complaints against HM Restaurant Group, saying it breached its contract with White regarding damages and royalties; pertaining to “specific performances”; and regarding damages for use of Doc Ford trademarks.
HM owns Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach and two restaurants in the St. Petersburg area. It also owns Dixie Fish Co. at Fort Myers Beach.
However, as White pointed out in a Sept. 18, 2025, email to the Naples Daily News, HM owns or leases “the buildings in which those restaurants are located, but I own the federal trademark and franchise. They DO NOT own the Doc Ford trademark and franchise.”
White entered into an agreement to create Doc Ford’s restaurant in 2003 with Island House Restaurant Limited Partnership, the suit said.
Island House Restaurant Limited Partnership dissolved in 2015 and HM Restaurant Group took over, the suit said.
When business relationship changed, White alleges
In early 2022, HM Restaurant Group approached White requesting a new agreement relative to the operation of the Doc Ford restaurants, the suit said.
However, HM Restaurant Group “not only requested a reduction of royalties payable to Mr. White but also sought to procure from Mr. White rights under the Doc Ford IP well beyond those necessary to operate a restaurant chain including 30% ownership of all Mr. White’s book copyrights, film/movie rights, and audiobook rights past, present and future in perpetuity,” the suit alleged.
Who is Randy Wayne White
Novelist Randy Wayne White’s 28th novel, “Tomlinson’s Wake,” features Doc Ford, a marine biologist and ex-NSA agent and “his perilous journey into Mesoamerica after a world-shattering earthquake threatens his squad’s safety ― and all of their lives,” White’s website randywaynewhite.com said.
White lives on Sanibel Island. His 27th novel, “One Deadly Eye,” published in 2024 and is about a hurricane tearing through Sanibel, a serial killer and more.
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Sanibel author’s suit over Doc Ford brand heads to trial
Reporting by Dave Osborn, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dave Osborn, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
