As tensions within her extended family remain high, Nicola Peltz is preparing to head to court over the death of her beloved dog.
Peltz, the wife of Brooklyn Beckham, has been ordered by a New York judge to appear for a deposition on October 30, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly.
The deposition surrounds a lawsuit filed by Peltz, 30, against New York-based dog grooming company HoundSpa, the company’s owner Deborah Gittleman and groomer Jony Ceballos.
In the lawsuit, Peltz accused the defendants of directly causing the death of her chihuahua Nala, who died in June 2024.
As part of the deposition, Nicola will be asked to authorize the release of Nala’s medical records, specifically the necropsy report.
In her original lawsuit, Nicola claimed Nala died at 9 years old due to “groomer’s abuse.”
Peltz alleged that she had issues with Ceballos since she began using HoundSpa’s services. Despite those feelings allegedly being known, Ceballos was sent to Peltz home to work on five of her dogs.
“Nala went into the grooming van, a happy, healthy dog, but returned injured and in severe physical distress — breathing heavily and wheezing, with her chest pulsating,” the lawsuit alleged. “As poor Nala suffered, Nicola rushed her to the vet, a fifteen-minute drive away.”
The suit continued, “The vet observed that Nala’s tongue was blue, she had fluid in her lungs, and she suffered neurological damage. Nala was put on oxygen and cared for as Nicola distressingly and emotionally witnessed her dog suffer.”
Nala allegedly died “a mere two hours” after being in the groomer’s van with Ceballos.
The lawsuit demanded unspecified damages, claiming Ceballos “not only failed to properly care for her, but also violently mistreated and/or intentionally abused the dog, with utter callous disregard for her safety, health and well-being. Ceballos’ actions severely, and ultimately fatally, injured Nala.”
In February, Ceballos denied any wrongdoing in Nala’s death.
According to court documents obtained by Us, Ceballos’ attorneys said Peltz’s lawsuit did not “state a cause of action” and that she “failed to perform as contractually provided.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Peltz and HoundSpa for comment.
Peltz, who cofounded dog rescue organization Yogi’s House in September 2022, announced Nala’s death with an emotional social media post.
“This has been the hardest month of my life,” Nicola shared via Instagram. “I can’t even find the words to describe my heartbreak on so many levels. Nala was perfectly healthy when she went to the groomers yesterday but came out hyperventilating and couldn’t catch her breath. We rushed her to the vet and she passed hours later. I’m sharing this in hopes that it might prevent this from happening to other dogs.”
She continued, “Her life was taken away from her way too soon. She was my beautiful queen and stayed by my side for 9 years through everything. Please be careful who you send your dogs to because you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. 1 day without nala on earth feels like an eternity. I wish I could have her back in my arms.”
News of the deposition comes as Peltz and Brooklyn, 26, are embroiled in a standoff with Brooklyn’s parents, David and Victoria Beckham.
Earlier this month, a source exclusively told Us that the foursome “have not been in touch” since Peltz and Brooklyn — who got married in April 2022 — decided to skip David’s 50th birthday celebration in London on May 3.
“There hasn’t been any sort of resolution from either side,” the insider said.
The source added, “Brooklyn is trying to let things go right now and is giving everyone space,” which involves him and his wife “just doing their own thing” at their home base in Los Angeles.
“They have their own separate lives and have been carrying on for now,” the source said.
