Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was undergoing treatment at an alcohol rehabilitation facility in Malibu on Tuesday when legal documents were finally delivered to him. The lawsuit accuses the 24-year-old athlete of biting a woman and making unprovoked antisemitic statements during an alleged drunken incident on New Year's Eve.
Legal Service Amid Rehabilitation
Plaintiff attorney Joseph Kar confirmed to The Daily Mail that Nacua was at the treatment centre when the lawsuit was served, following two previous unsuccessful attempts. According to initial reports from TMZ, a nurse identified only as 'Jane Doe' facilitated the indirect service of the legal papers. Process servers had reportedly been denied access to the facility on earlier occasions, with staff unable to confirm Nacua's presence due to strict HIPAA privacy regulations protecting patient information.
Allegations of Physical Assault and Hate Speech
The lawsuit alleges that an intoxicated Nacua bit plaintiff Madison Atiabi and her friend on December 31st. Court documents obtained by The Daily Mail state that Nacua made an unprovoked antisemitic statement during dinner, declaring 'F*** all the Jews' in the presence of Atiabi, who is Jewish. The filing claims this caused immediate emotional distress to the plaintiff.
According to the legal complaint, Nacua subsequently bit the thumb of Atiabi's friend and then bit Atiabi's back, leaving a visible mark. Photographic evidence of the alleged bite injury has been submitted as part of the court documentation. Atiabi is seeking general and compensatory damages to be determined at trial, alongside special damages covering past and future medical expenses.
Rams Involvement and Rehabilitation Timeline
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Nacua reported for duty on Monday for the first day of the Rams' offseason program. Head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Tuesday that the All-Pro receiver appears to be doing 'really well' and is expected to be a 'full participant' in team activities. McVay declined to disclose details of his conversations with Nacua but described their relationship as positive and moving in a good direction.
Nacua has consistently denied Atiabi's allegations and previously threatened to sue her for defamation. His attorney, Levi McCathern, revealed to The California Post on April 1st that Nacua entered rehabilitation 'a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke' and is scheduled to remain in treatment for an extended duration.
Legal Developments and Previous Controversies
Atiabi originally filed for a restraining order against Nacua but has since voluntarily withdrawn that petition. Attorney Joseph Kar explained that this decision allows the plaintiff to focus efforts on the civil lawsuit filed on March 25th, 2026. Kar also noted that the Los Angeles Police Department continues to investigate Atiabi's allegations against the football player.
This incident represents the second time Nacua has faced accusations of antisemitic behaviour. In December, he faced significant public backlash and later apologised after performing a hand-rubbing celebration on a livestream with popular streamer Adin Ross. The gesture is widely recognised as derogatory toward Jewish people. Nacua claimed he had 'no idea' about the offensive reference at the time.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Nacua's legal representative for additional comment regarding the latest developments in this ongoing case.
