Puka Nacua and legal team attempt to push back key witness in lawsuit

Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Puka Nacua and his legal team are attempting to push back a key witness deposition in a civil lawsuit that alleges he bit Madison Atiabi.

The report that Nacua and his legal team are attempting to object to witness Zoe Harvey from testifying remotely originated on Thursday morning from TMZ.

TMZ reported that Nacua’s legal team had 17 days’ notice to object but waited until this past Monday to do so, claiming that one of Nacua’s “attorneys had a mediation that presented a conflict.” They also added that Atiabi’s lawyers are calling Nacua’s objection the “oldest trick in the book,” despite Harvey taking time off from her full-time job and graduate school schedule so she could testify from the East Coast.

Now, Nacua’s defense is offering to do it over the weekend, or after Sept. 7, just three days before Nacua and the Rams open the 2026 season in Australia against the San Francisco 49ers.

According to TMZ, Harvey is believed to be a major witness in the case, as Atiabi says she saw the alleged biting incident that took place on New Year’s Eve.

On July 21, The California Post obtained a photo of the alleged bite mark by Nacua on Atiabi’s shoulder, showing the severity of the injury.

On March 24, Atiabi filed a restraining order against Nacua for the alleged bite mark on New Year’s Eve and added that he allegedly said “f—k all the Jews.”

Since receiving the allegations, Nacua checked into therapy this past April and has been focused on being the “best version” of himself.

The Rams began NFL Training Camp this past Sunday, and Nacua has been present. On Wednesday, he met with the media and said his therapy has been going well, as it’s taught him to rely on his support system; he also called this lawsuit a moment for him to learn.

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