A 3 judge panel (all those judges were conservative by the way) ruled that Ashcroft can be sued –

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090905/ap_on_re_us/us_ashcroft_lawsuit;_ylt=AmfIggEskieYrBfOdBaqmah1fNdF

Al-Kidd, a US citizen wants to sue Ashcroft. He was suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. However, he was eventually acquitted as there was no evidence whatsoever to prove he was involved in wrongdoing.

However, after being acquitted Al-Kidd got fired from his government job (just because he was detained by Ashcroft) and was asked to surrender his US passport and was also asked to live in confinement (that is he was not allowed to see his wife) — All this after being acquitted by court!

Al-kidd says his career and marriage was ruined because of Ashcroft