Steve Sugarman [3], a former executive from Fleishman-Hillard [4] (F-H), was sentenced to three years probation and 250 hours of community service for his role in the overbilling of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and other city agencies [5]. Two other F-H staff, Douglas R. Dowie [6] and John Stoddard, were convicted earlier this year for their role in the scandal. They have yet to be sentenced, as they are seeking a new trial. In April 2005, F-H agreed to pay $5.7 million to settle the lawsuit brought against it by the city of Los Angeles for overbilling [7] various city agencies.