US telecoms firm Savvis has forced its chief executive to take unpaid leave as it investigates claims that he ran up a $241,000 (£136,000) bill in a strip bar.
American Express has brought a law suit against Savvis boss Robert McCormick claiming he is two years late in paying a bill from Scores nightclub in New York.
McCormick and three colleagues allegedly ran up the bill on a corporate credit card and then disputed the charges.
Deena Williamson, deputy general counsel for Savvis, said the company believed that McCormack was the victim of fraud.
However, Lonnie Hanover, a Scores spokesman, said the club got authorisation for all the charges.
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“We followed proper procedures and we were paid,” he said.
He added that Scores gets clients to confirm their spending every time they spend $10,000 or more.
