St. Petersburg Civil Rights Claim Resolved
The Law Office of Michael P. Maddux, P.A. is proud to announce the resolution of a St. Petersburg civil rights claim in federal court on behalf of our client. The case settled after a successful mediation with the officers involved.
The Case
In June 2025, St. Petersburg police officers stopped our client on suspicion of DUI. Officers quickly saw that she was not wearing pants. Even so, they ordered her out of her car and held her on the side of a busy public road, exposed to passing traffic, while they ran field sobriety exercises. Clothing was in her car, and officers heard this more than once. No one gave it to her. Officers ultimately transported her to jail still unclothed.
Our client was cooperative throughout and had no prior convictions. She was also in visible distress. The way officers treated her that night made a hard moment far worse, and she has felt the effects since.
The Claims in Our St. Petersburg Civil Rights Claim
We filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The suit alleged violations of her Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. These protect her from unreasonable intrusion on her bodily privacy and from conduct that disregards her bodily integrity and dignity. We also brought state-law claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The Result
The case resolved at mediation, early in the litigation. This was before the parties had to invest in depositions and face the cost and delay of discovery. Our client was able to reach a resolution without the stress of a prolonged public fight.
Why It Matters
A person in police custody still has a right to basic dignity. Officers can investigate a crime without leaving someone exposed when a simple solution is within arm’s reach. Cases like this are a reminder that constitutional protections apply on the side of a road at night, not just in a courtroom.
We are grateful to our client for her courage in bringing this case forward and for trusting our office to tell her story.
If you believe officers violated your rights during an encounter with law enforcement, contact the Law Office of Michael P. Maddux, P.A. at (813) 253-3363 for a consultation.