Four senior managers disciplined for "Joe the Plumber" checks (Suspended, not fired)

The Columbus Dispatch ^ | November 21, 2008 | Randy Ludlow

[Political Junkie Too]

Wow! Punishment is a note in their permanent file?

I wonder what Kenneth Bacon is doing these days?

-PJ

[oldfart]

“I hope Joe the Plumber sues them all into penury.”

It might put him in a higher tax bracket. By the time Obama got through he’d be broke.

[mewzilla]

LOL. I hope he does it anyway :)

[OCC]

Since “punishment” has already been handed out, Joe’s suit would only serve to punish the taxpayers of Ohio

As an Ohio taxpayer, this is one case where I would be willing to take the hit.

[Don Carlos]

If Joe sues the state of Ohio and the offending parties, the employees (in my experience) would be personally liable. The state would then have little choice but to take serious action to protect themself.

Take it to the bank, what those employees did looking into Joe's files was against state law! My guess would be, unless they have a memo from their supervisor requesting the inquiries, they are in deep doo-doo.

Sure wish a state legal beagle would chime in here.

[sociallyunacceptable]

What the hell is the office of family stability!!!!!!!!

This is equally as disturbing if you ask me!

[mewzilla]

Are bureaucrats immunized from civil suits? Or does the state have insurance to cover their activities? And if they are sued for an illegal act, would the insurance still cover the perp?

[A Cyrenian]

Any way of finding their home addresses, phone numbers?

Joe the plumber may like to know this information.

[antiRepublicrat]

But unless you can actually sue the offenders or make them pay somehow, the money award from the state, although welcome..seems to be a phyrric victory at best.

This is just a generality of what I know about immunity, but I believe you are only immune for what you do for the government in the course of your government work, according to government policy. Making these checks was outside of government work and policy, that claim bolsterd by the judgment that the checks were improper, so they might not be immune. Joe could sue the state for having a system that allowed it to happen, but he may be able to sue these people individually for doing it.

[meyer]

It was a feeble attempt at humor ... knowing how the Demo-rats operate ....

Yeah, I know. I had just seen Whoraldo lashing out against Guantanamo on Fox, and I in turn lashed out. That man is truly an idiot.

[Chickensoup]

As far as I can tell, a leftist who is in a GGJ (good government job) is not permitted to EVER lose it.

[IrishPennant]

Nota legal beagle but a previous public servant who found himself on the other side of some of these suits. I was named first and then the agency. Thank goodness they were BS and never went through but scary nonetheless.

The state will make Joe a quick offer based on how much the state feels it is going to cost just to defend the case. So if they think just to get into court it will cost the state a minimum of $100k, then Joe gets an instant offer of $100k. Joe will not take it though. :)

Unfortunately, people actually make a living taking these initial offers (I am not implying this of JTP) because they know if they bring up a suit, they may get a quick offer right off the bat.

[lonevoice]

Here's an excerpt of Joe's November 20tth official statement about how he plans to react to the invasions of his privacy. This is from Joe's website:

"I have a message for those un-American and unscrupulous individuals who were either involved or complicit with these corrupt, unjustified and contemptuous acts, which violate the very nature and spirit of our nation's Constitution. Your attempts to silence my voice, and discourage the voices of the many who will challenge our elected officials hereafter, has already failed. I will not cower, I will not be silenced, and I will not relent from my pursuit to see justice served upon you."

Dang. I really like this Joe guy!

Link

[mewzilla]

Thanks for the ping! :)

Dang. I really like this Joe guy!

I do, too. God bless him! :)

[mewzilla]

Love the tag line, BTW!

[lonevoice]

Joe will not take it though. :)

I think you're right about that. :) See #33

[2ndDivisionVet]

I'm guessing it's a euphemism for the welfare office (formerly Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) now called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF))

[cookcounty]

Suspended? When those individuals looked at Obama's passport last Spring, they were fired the same day.

[SkyDancer]

Wasn’t he the guy who was reporting on a battle but was five hundred miles away when it happened???

[Cyman]

Sorry but the BIG problem is not that JoneshyphenatedKelly authorized or even ordered the check, it was because she LIED about it, most probably under oath. I believe the cover up was the felony