THE TAMPA JUSTICE PROJECT

Robledo v. City of Tampa

A Public Archive of a Federal Civil Rights Case

Preserving the Public Record. Promoting Transparency. Advancing Constitutional Accountability.

About the Tampa Justice Project

The Tampa Justice Project is a public archive documenting Robledo v. City of Tampa, a federal civil rights action arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The project preserves court filings, police reports, body-worn camera footage, photographs, video, official records, and other primary source materials in a single publicly accessible archive.

Its mission is to preserve the historical record, promote transparency, and encourage informed public scrutiny of governmental conduct by providing direct access to the evidence underlying the litigation.

Case Overview

On March 17, 2021, Rachel Robledo called 911 seeking assistance. During the police response, a Tampa police officer shot her dog, Nala, twice, including once in the head. Following the shooting, officers detained Ms. Robledo while Nala required immediate emergency veterinary treatment, preventing Ms. Robledo from transporting her to an emergency veterinary hospital.

Robledo v. City of Tampa alleges that this detention violated Ms. Robledo's constitutional rights. The lawsuit further alleges that policies, practices, and customs of the City of Tampa led to the deprivation of those constitutional rights.

Why This Case Matters

Every constitutional case begins with a particular set of facts. Yet the constitutional questions presented often extend far beyond the individuals involved.

At its core, Robledo v. City of Tampa concerns the constitutional limits on governmental authority. The case examines whether government officials may unlawfully detain a citizen while preventing her from obtaining emergency medical care for her gravely injured dog, and whether municipal policies, practices, and customs led to the constitutional injuries alleged in the litigation.

The Tampa Justice Project exists so that every visitor may examine the public record firsthand and evaluate the evidence independently.