Phoenix ? Motivational speaker and author James Arthur Ray has canceled his remaining 2009 seminars in the wake of three deaths that occurred after a sweat lodge ceremony he led in Arizona.

The decision marks a sea change for Ray, a charismatic public speaker who recruits people for his expensive retreats through free seminars at hotels and conference centers across North America.

Following the tragedy that led to the deaths and the hospitalization of 18 other people, lawyers for several of the victims have said they plan to pursue lawsuits, although none have been filed.

The lawyer for a southern Arizona woman badly hurt in the incident said late Thursday that he planned to file the first lawsuit in the case today.