The trial of Douglas R. Dowie [3] and John Stodder, two former executives with the PR firm Fleishman-Hillard [4] (F-H) executives, commences this week over allegations that they overbilled [5] the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power [6] by approximately $325,000. Dowie and Stodder have pleaded not guilty. Dowie is also suing F-H alleging that he was sacked, the Los Angeles Times reports, in a bid to conceal a "larger scandal involving the laundering of illegal campaign contributions to Los Angeles politicians." F-H rejects the claim.