Press Release
August 20, 2025

What to Know About Phoenix's Failed Settlement With Nubia Rodriguez, Woman Wrongly Charged for Officer's Accidental Death

Nubia Rodriguez, wrongly charged in the 2019 death of Phoenix police Officer Paul Rutherford, is proceeding with a malicious prosecution lawsuit against the city after a settlement fell through.

Rodriguez’s lawsuit alleges Phoenix police presented misleading testimony, suppressed evidence, and withheld video footage that showed Rutherford darted into traffic.

“The City of Phoenix's treatment of Nubia Rodriguez remains, in a word, abhorrent.  The City falsely accused Nubia of the homicide of a police officer who, by all accounts, was a good man who made a tragic mistake by running into traffic.  The city refuses to take accountability for its officers' actions and the absolute destruction of an innocent woman's life.”

Larry WulkanAttorney Representing Nubia Rodriguez

A judge dismissed the negligent homicide case against Rodriguez, ruling prosecutors hadn't shown probable cause.

Read the full article at AZCentral

Larry J. Wulkan

Larry Wulkan’s practice concentrates on three areas: general civil and commercial litigation, civil rights litigation, and catastrophic injury litigation.  He focuses on large, complicated cases with many moving parts.

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