Entertainment Firm Executive Accused of Sex Harassment : Lawsuit: Former employee levels charges against head of recreation enterprises in Warner Bros. theme park division.

A theme park executive known for his champion chili recipe and for helping to bring the London Bridge to Arizona, was accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed Friday by a former administrator in the recreation enterprises department he heads at Warner Bros. Inc.

C.V. (Woody) Wood, whose Championship Chili has helped raise millions for charities, was sued in Superior Court by Diane Rappaport, 40, of Beverly Hills. Her lawsuit accuses Wood and Warner Bros. of assault and battery, wrongful termination in violation of public policy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

“Mr. Wood and this corporation believe this complaint has no merit,” said a Warner Bros. spokesman. He said both Wood and Warner Bros. declined further comment until they had an opportunity to read the lawsuit.

The spokesman also declined comment on complaints Rappaport filed last month with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing. “The EEOC filing is being addressed through due process of this company and the EEOC,” he said.

According to the 16-page lawsuit, Rappaport was hired in February, 1990, as a $750-a-week administrator in Wood’s department. In February, 1991, Wood gave her an exemplary performance evaluations, maximum salary increases, and promised her a promotion to department vice president, the suit said.

Their relationship changed after March, 1991, the suit says, when Wood declared his love for her on a business trip. She reportedly rejected his advances, and he apologized.

However, Wood resumed his advances and became “curt, insulting, and belittling” to Rappaport after she refused to kiss him, according to the lawsuit. Wood continued his sexual approaches when Rappaport joined him on a business trip to Australia in April despite assurances “he would behave in a professional manner,” the suit alleges.

During that monthlong trip, Wood repeatedly “attempted to kiss Ms. Rappaport, despite her protests; he would unzip her skirt; undo her brassiere; and run his hand up her leg and thigh,” the suit states, adding that she “reacted by screaming at him” and informed him that his behavior was “deplorable.”

When his wife arrived in Australia, Rappaport states in the suit, Wood began criticizing her work and giving her assignments outside her area of expertise. On May 19, he placed her on probation, sent her home, and refused to pay her expenses, the suit alleges.

After her return, Rappaport was placed under medical care for depression, according to the suit. When she retained an attorney, Gloria Allred, Warner Bros. agreed to find a new position for her, place her on paid leave, and pay her Australian travel and medical expenses, according to the suit.

However, Warner Bros. “failed to act in good faith” on that agreement, failed to fully investigate her charges, and renewed Wood’s contract after it became aware of her complaint, the suit charges. Rappaport was reportedly terminated on Sept. 21.

Wood, who grew up in Amarillo, Tex., has been a longtime organizer of the World Championship Chili Cookoff, which raises money for charity. He is a former assistant chairman of the board of Lorimar Telepictures and former chairman of McCulloch Oil Corp., where he was instrumental in buying the London Bridge and moving it to Lake Havasu City, Ariz. He also helped design Disneyland.