Book dilemma/ Legal advice

So I get an email from my publisher saying the following: After a review of your non-fiction manuscript in the text production department, we have discovered the following content issues that must be resolved before we move forward. PublishAmerica advises that you discuss your use of quotes and presentation of real-life persons with a lawyer. Per Paragraph 27 of the Contract, you will be liable for any infringements. We also suggest visiting the Library of Congress' website: www.loc.gov/copyright. Here are the issues that must be addressed: Permissions: PublishAmerica requests a copy of the expressed, written permissions you have obtained from the real-life persons you refer to or describe in your book. This permission should indicate that they are aware of what you are writing and that they permit you to print it for distribution and sale. OR, if you are unable to obtain such permissions, PublishAmerica requests that you revise your manuscript, and re-submit a novel that allows the book to truthfully state that "All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental." Please contact me within one week with your plan to address these issues. After we receive a revised copy and/or permissions from you, your book will be moved into Option three for a full edit. --- SO HERES MY ISSUE. ITS A TRUE STORY AND I DONT WANT TO SAY IT IS NOT. I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO GET SUED. I CHANGED EVERYONES NAMES, ONLY USED FIRST NAMES AND NO LAST NAMES. I DO NOT KNOW IF I SHOULD CONSULT A LAWYER AND IF I DO WHAT KIND OF LAWYER?? THANKS FOR THE HELP.

[This is not legal advice.] You want to avoid getting sued consult a lawyer, the fact that the publishers recomened you do so speaks volumes. Not knowing what the book is about I would urge you to talk to the people you have based the story on, are you so sure that the incedents in question are something they would want conveyed publicly...would others be able to identify them even with names being changed? Personally I would check with them just to avoid hurting someone...again I don't know the nature of your book... http://copyrighteous.blogspot.com/2007/08/lawsuit-free-writing-in-lawsuit-happy.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_rights

Thanks for the help. I did talk to my friends and family that are in the book but obviously i cannot talk to the man in the book that I had the relationship with. I dont really think anyone else can identify the people from my book because I give no physical descriptions and just use first names. You websites were helpful