The court’s ruling puts an end to a long legal dispute
The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that NBA player Christian Wood must pay $25,000 a month in child support, ending a lengthy legal battle in Lorain County. The decision came after Wood missed the appeal deadline by one day, leaving the previous ruling in effect.
Wood and an Elyria woman had a child in January 2021, according to court records. They met on social media while Wood was playing for the Dallas Mavericks. He most recently played for the Los Angeles Lakers.
hCase timeline
In July 2021, both parents appeared in Lorain County court to determine child support and visitation. The court issued a preliminary injunction requiring Wood to make monthly payments of $5,000. The case was brought to trial in 2023. After reviewing the financial information and circumstances, the court set Wood’s permanent child support obligation at $25,000 per month and retroactively deferred the amount to January 2021.
Due to the retroactive effect, the amount due increased significantly. Wood tried to challenge the ruling by filing an appeal. However, he filed it 15 days after receiving the order.
Missed deadline determines the outcome
The key issue before the Ohio Supreme Court was not the amount of support, but whether Wood filed his objection on time. The judges found that he had missed the deadline by one day, automatically affirming the court’s ruling.
The court notice stated that the timing issue dominated the case. Because the filing was late, the judges did not reverse the earlier decision setting the $25,000 monthly payment.
What comes next
Now that the ruling is final, Wood will be responsible for the full monthly payment and the retroactive amount. The decision also means the Lorain County court’s previous findings on support and visitation remain unchanged.
The case is a reminder of how procedural deadlines can determine legal outcomes, even in high-profile disputes involving professional athletes. Wood’s next steps should follow lower court procedures, as the state’s highest court has now closed the door on this appeal.
The ruling represents a significant financial commitment for the veteran forward as he continues his NBA career.
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