Mar 27, 2007 6:53 pm US/Eastern
NYC Subway Hero In Court Over Movie, Book Deals
BY DAVE CARLIN, CBS 2 NEWS
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
He captivated the nation with his selfless heroism, but now Wesley Autrey is heading to court. The subway "superman" says he needs some help to get out of a bad business deal.
Everybody loves a hero, and Autrey is a true example. His daring leap from a subway platform to save a stranger made him an international sensation.
He's been in the spotlight at City Hall, Washington D.C. and all over television explaining why he jumped on the tracks and covered Cameron Hollopeter. The train went over the top of both of them.
Autry spoke with CBS' David Letterman about his experience, "I look -- there is enough clearance: 'Wesley you are going to make it.' I took a judgment, and my judgment was right."
But it seems Autrey now questions what he calls a one-sided deal with lawyer Diane Kleiman and movie agent Mark Anthony Esposito. He signed a deal with them February 12, and is now asking the court to declare it void.
He accuses the duo of promising him movie and book deals and pressuring him to a sign a far-reaching contract that he now claims gives them too large a chunk of the profits.
In an exclusive interview with CBS 2's Maurice DuBois on February 28, Autrey talked about his life in the limelight.
"I can't get into a restaurant and eat my meal, and people want to shake, shake, shake my hand. They want to see if I'm real," Autry told DuBois.
Autrey has been showered with gifts from admirers since his heroic act in January.
Among them are season tickets to the New Jersey Nets, scholarship money for his daughters, a new Jeep and a one-year parking pass from the city.
Autrey is currently on leave from his construction job to become an ambassador of goodwill. He says he hopes to open a youth center in Harlem.
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