Developers Bruce Rendina and George deGuardiola, however, appearto have won the first round. They already have been paid $300,000from a letter of credit that locally-based Bankrate Inc. issued toa local bank to guarantee the space at the Abacoa Business Park innearby Jupiter, FL. Now the developers are suing for an additional$500,000 plus legal fees.

Their two lawsuits allege Bankrate breached the lease contractand another contract to buy 2.15 acres adjoining their plannedheadquarters site. The online publisher of bank rates and personalfinance information, however, contends the office space wasn'tready in time, voiding the contract for the space and the landacquisition. The defendant's $60,000 deposit on the land deal is inescrow until the lawsuit is resolved.

Bankrate Inc. was formerly called ilife.com. The companycompleted a $45 million initial public offering earlier in the yearbut revenue and profit never reached projections. The company hasbeen operating under new management.