TMZ is taking a former executive to small claims court, alleging that he embezzled at least $99,509 from the company.
According to the suit, Alex “Woody” Wood worked for the media outlet from January 2023 to February 2024. The complaint accuses him of “exploiting his position of trust” by siphoning money out of petty cash.
“Wood is an embezzler and a fraudster,” the suit alleges.
A trial is set to be held at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on Monday morning.
Wood is also accused of paying personal expenses on a company card, and then lying to cover it up, and of diverting TMZ’s money to businesses he owned.
“After being caught, Wood admitted his wrongdoing and promised to repay the money he stole,” the lawsuit states.
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He made a series of payments to TMZ from April through July, but then stopped, and still owes about $45,000, the complaint states.
The company says he has “refused repeated requests” to pay off the remaining balance.
TMZ sued in small claims court on Oct. 1.
Though the company claims it is owed $45,000, the most it can recover in small claims is $6,250.
Wood hung up the phone when reached for comment on Friday. He is credited on IMDb as the “executive in charge of production” on TMZ’s Christmas special last year, entitled “TMZ’s Merry Elfin Christmas.”
WarnerMedia sold TMZ to Fox Corp. in 2021 for about $50 million. Harvey Levin founded the company in 2005, following a lengthy career as a law professor, legal commentator and TV news reporter.