January 1998: Valentin Rodriguez successfully challenged a city ordinance in Riviera Beach that prohibited persons from obstructing public passageways, and when doing so, had to give legitimate reasons for being on sidewalks, road, etc. The law was ruled unconstitutional, and ultimately, the criminal charges were dismissed against many defendants, and the City agreed to pay compensatory damages to those illegally arrested under the ordinance. (See Palm Beach Post article titled: Sidewalk Violations a Cash Cow for Riviera Beach, published on June 27, 1997, and Riviera Sidewalk Blocking Ordinance Unconstitutional, published on October 17, 1997).

August 1998: Valentin Rodriguez successfully challenged local courtroom policies of extending probation for persons who are not able to pay court costs and fines, and then jailing them for later failing to pay those fines – arguing that we do not have debtors prisons. (See Palm Beach Post article titled:     Policy Extending Probation Disputed: Plea and Pass Deals Punish Poor, Some Say, published on August 24, 1998).

March 1999: Valentin Rodriguez successfully challenged a state law that required holder of commercial drivers licenses to be able to speak English fluently, despite the fact that the driving examination was offered in other languages and that language was not a criteria for driving skills; the law violated the constitutional rights of the CDL license holders, and was based on an antiquated federal law. (See Palm Beach Post article titled: Spanish Speaking Driver Wins Right to Keep Trucking, published on March 31, 1999).

July 1999: Valentin Rodriguez successfully defended the City of Riviera Beach in a false arrest and battery case, where the arrestee had demanded more than $1 million in damages because an officer had allegedly battered him. (See Palm Beach Post article titled: Riviera Cleared of Excessive Force Claim, published on July 3, 1999).

November 2000: The School District, after being sued under Title IX in federal court, agreed to build a softball field for girls at John I. Leonard high school. Valentin Rodriguez was able to prompt construction of the softball field that had been delayed for two years, while the boys enjoyed modern baseball facilities. (See Palm Beach Post article titled: Lawsuit Settled as Team Gets Home of its Own, published on November 30, 2000).

March 2001: A civil rights group hired Valentin Rodriguez to represent a group of migrant farm workers in Ft. Pierce who were living in mobile homes, and because of neglect by the landlord, had no electricity or water provided by the city. (See Palm Beach Post article titled: Restore Power: Mobile Home Park Urges, published on March 13, 2001).