PITTSBURGH — A city sports bar co-owned by Hines Ward is at the center of a financial dispute involving the Steelers wide receiver and two investors.

The Locker Room Bar & Grille last week sued one of the investors, Nicholas Lettieri Jr., claiming Lettieri withdrew nearly $19,000 from four of the bar's bank accounts earlier this month even though he was no longer authorized to do so.

Lettieri's attorneys on Monday answered with court documents accusing Ward and the bar's third investor, Kimberly Pitts, of taking more than $1 million in profits, plus $500,000 from an insurance claim, from the business.

An Allegheny County judge ordered Lettieri to return the money he withdrew, but also ordered Pitts and Ward to produce the bar's financial records. The judge scheduled a hearing for today at which she could take more action.

Attorneys for Lettieri and Pitts did not return a message left Wednesday by The Associated Press.

Ward told reporters in the locker room before practice Wednesday that 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," Ward said. "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."

The bar's attorney, Thomas Castello, said Lettieri's allegations surfaced after the bar sought to get its money back.