A woman’s request for a restraining order against Rams player Puka Nacua, who was accused of biting her earlier this year, was denied in court on Tuesday.
During the hearing in a Los Angeles County courtroom, attorney Joseph Kerr, representing Madison Atiabi, informed Judge Debra R. Archuleta that they wished to withdraw the petition that had been filed against Nacua on March 24.
Kerr mentioned that Nacua is currently in a rehabilitation program for substance abuse. He stated, “We do not plan to pursue this petition at this point.”
He also noted that he had been in communication with representatives from Nacua’s camp regarding the situation.
Judge Archuleta explained that the case would be dismissed “without prejudice,” which means it can still be reopened in the future.
Initially, Atiabi had claimed that Nacua threatened her while they were out in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. She accused him of making an offensive tweet and then biting her on the shoulder while they were in a van.
Kerr had previously indicated that he would withdraw the restraining order application to focus more on the lawsuit they filed against Nacua shortly after.
“Withdrawing voluntarily allows civil matters to be examined more thoroughly in court,” Kerr explained, noting that while civil lawsuits are generally jury trials, civil harassment claims often aren’t.
Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, responded by acknowledging some verbal abuse but categorically denying any anti-Semitic comments, arguing that the altercation arose from a personal disagreement.
“They keep inflating this minor incident for potential profit,” McCathern commented about Atiabi and her legal team. “In the end, they may end up owing Nacua, not the other way around.”
After the incident, Nacua entered rehab, and according to McCathern, he has been doing well there. As for the Rams, they are set to begin their offseason training next week.
