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.

Amanda, would it be possible to get permission from the people you named in your book?Or, could you change enough of the story to make it a fiction story without ruining the story line, and not having to get permission from them. Maybe you should talk to a lawyer, a lawyer that deals with infringments, copyrights, ect.  I don't know if this will help you or not, but good luck with the book. Lisa

I am with Lisa on this to try and touch base with an attorney on this. There has to be someone out there that specializes in this area of the law otherwise they would not have suggested it. Chris