LOS ANGELES : Real Estate Firm Sues MWD Over Land Deal

In a continuing controversy over a land deal gone sour, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has been sued by its former commercial real estate firm, which alleges that the giant water agency has tried to deprive it of a commission.

The water agency, in turn, has asked a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to uphold its firing of Beitler Commercial Realty. A hearing is set for July 29.

The dispute stems from a botched effort to find a new headquarters in downtown Los Angeles for the water agency. In a separate lawsuit last month, the MWD revealed that it has lost $3.3 million in the search for a site.

In the latest legal action, Beitler alleges that it was fired by the water agency just as the search had been narrowed to three sites.