"Joe the Plumber" loses federal civil lawsuit against Ohio bureaucrats

After Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher verbally attacked Presidential candidate Obama's policies in a widely-publicized media event, three Ohio bureaucrats apparently investigated the Ohio databases related to welfare, unemployment and child support enforcement to determine whether Wurzelbacher was vulnerable to criticism.   All were suspended and their employment was terminated.

Nevertheless, when Wurzelbacher became aware of the administrative search he sued the three government officials involved for money damages.  The money damage claims were dismissed by the trial court and the dismissal was upheld by the Sixth Circuit.  The Court concluded that Wurzelbacher did not have a valid "1983" claim of invasion of privacy.