invention resource international Deceptive trade practice Internet, Internet

In May 30th I came up with an invention and wanted to have this developed and put on the market because I felt that this item could save lives.  I went to an agent of invention resource international and the agent stated that the first cost would be $1195.00 to do research and see if anybody else was marketing this kind of item.  I wasn't told this but later found out that some men had actually patented an item several years ago.  The next step was the cost of writing about my invention making a dvd advertising the item after getting a provisional patent.  This cost $8950.00 and I paid $5,000.00 upfront with good faith and honest intentions that this would be a good business venture. 

 In June 1,2011 I called on the company to see where my invention was going.  I was told that my invention went to Las Vegas in March and I wasn't told about it.  I asked about the mailouts of the brochures and I was told that the agent was working on the set of 100 mailouts and this would be 200 al totaled. There wasn't a single positive response from all tose mailouts so I asked permission if I could do a few mailouts and out of 35 mailouts I got 2 positive response.  I have stopped paying these people but the bills still keep coming and I do have a lawyer, but he has directed me to try this first to get my money back. The amount of damages through the deceptive trade practice is $8,800.00.  This company didn't live up to the inventor's protection act of 1999.