Legal Battle Brewing At Hines Ward's Locker Room BarOwner Alleges That Co-Owners Stole From Pittsburgh BusinessPOSTED: 12:23 am EDT September 19,
2007 PITTSBURGH -- There is a legal battle brewing between the owners of the Locker Room Bar and Grille on the South Side.One owner, Nicholas Lettieri, has accused two co-owners, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and Kimberly Pitts, of draining the company accounts of nearly $1.5 million.Lettieri also claimed that there were false invoices created with the help of Pitts' husband, which he said sucked nearly $300,000 in insurance money out of the bar and restaurant on East Carson Street.The insurance was paid out after the bar was flooded earlier this year.Lettieri said the restaurant made more than $1 million in profits but its bank accounts recently totaled only about $19,000, which Lettieri said he withdrew because he claims the money is owed to him.A judge has ordered that Lettieri return the money, and that the Locker Room's business records be opened to him.Ward said he's not concerned about Lettieri's allegations and said he has "zero" role in the day-to-day operations of the bar. "My attorneys, my accountants are all handling that. They're allegations, and they're providing the courts with all the documents and stuff," Ward said. "Yes, I am the owner, but I had nothing to do with that. My job is really publicity of the bar. I don't write checks. I don't even get involved with the money, and the accountants and stuff like that."Asked about the bar's profits, Ward laughed and said, "Trust me, it is what it is. The guy made allegations. I really don't know what more to comment on because there are allegations."Attorney Thomas Castello, who represents the company, said the allegations are "baseless, ridiculous and unfounded."Lettieri, Ward and Pitts each invested $60,000 under a November 2005 operating agreement and Lettieri was named the bar's operating manager, according to the court filings. Lettieri resigned as operating manager in October 2006 and was replaced by Pitts. Lettieri has since feuded with the others about his share of the profits and access to the bar's financial records.A court hearing on the matter was continued Thursday. It will be rescheduled for a date to be determined. Related Links: More Allegheny County NewsGet RSS Headlines | Free Desktop Alert Copyright 2008 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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