Puka Nacua responded on Tuesday to a lawsuit claiming he bit a woman on New Year’s Eve, and his court filing includes some surprising accusations against Madison Atiabi, the woman suing him.
Nacua’s legal team stated in documents viewed by the California Post that Atiabi’s “intoxication, aggressive behavior and/or escalation” on the night of December 31, 2025, were significant factors leading to the altercation, during which Nacua reportedly bit her shoulder. They argued that this should reduce any damages claimed.
In total, Nacua’s filing presents 18 different defenses, including one emphasizing that Atiabi’s alcohol consumption played a role in the incident.
The lawyers mentioned, “The plaintiff was under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, which impaired his judgment and contributed to the alleged incident and damages.”
Atiabi’s attorney, Joseph Carr, expressed that he had “no specific comment” regarding Nacua’s claims but emphasized that the contributions allegedly made by Atiabi are false.
“As the case unfolds,” he added, “these defenses don’t hold up in situations involving intentional acts or gender-based violence.”
Atiabi filed charges against Nacua on March 25, including sexual assault, assault, battery, and negligence, after alleging he threatened her during a night out with a friend. She also accused him of making offensive comments and claimed he bit her shoulder, resulting in painful and visible marks.
Nacua’s lawyer acknowledged that his client did bite Atiabi, characterizing it as part of a mutual “horseplay.” He denied the allegations about any anti-Semitic remarks made by Nacua.
Furthermore, Nacua reportedly entered a rehabilitation facility after the incident to work on improving his behavior across all aspects of his life.
Recently, he returned to the Rams for offseason practices and was seen at a Lakers playoff game, indicating he’s getting back into the swing of things.
