Before becoming an IT Project Manager, I used to help a lawyer do Internet casework investigation on cases he was working on. You can look up all kinds of public records on people depending on the state. Even how much they owe on their house. Criminal records, driving records, divorce and bankruptcy records, civil suits they were involved in and MUCH more.

http://recorder.maricopa.gov/home.htm

http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/index.asp

http://www.supreme.state.az.us/publicaccess/notification/search.asp?id=