Giants' Pierre-Paul sues ESPN, Schefter for posting records
NEW YORK (AP) - Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul filed a lawsuit Wednesday against ESPN and reporter Adam Schefter for posting his medical records last summer.
The lawsuit, filed in Miami Dade County in Florida, alleges that Pierre-Paul's privacy was violated — as was the state's medical records statute — by the report after the player severely injured his right hand in a fireworks accident on July 4.
The New York Post first reported the lawsuit Wednesday night.
The lawsuit doesn't specify how much money Pierre-Paul is seeking, other than it "is an action for damages in excess of $15,000."
According to Pierre-Paul's lawyers, Mitchell Schuster and Kevin Fritz, Schefter "improperly obtained" the defensive end's medical chart, which showed he had his right index finger amputated at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
According to Florida statute 456.057, patients' medical records can't be given to or discussed with anyone not involved in their care — something the suit alleges Schefter violated.
Schefter posted a photo of Pierre-Paul's chart on July 8 on Twitter, where he currently has more than 4.5 million followers.
"This action arises out of ESPN reporter Schefter's blatant disregard for the private and confidential nature of Plaintiff's medical records," the lawsuit states, "all so Schefter could show the world that he had 'supporting proof' of a surgical procedure."
In a later interview with Sports Illustrated, Schefter said he "could have and should have done even more to protect (Pierre-Paul's) medical records," according to the lawsuit.
The suit also states that while Pierre-Paul's amputation "may have been of legitimate public concern, the chart itself was not."
Pierre Paul returned to the Giants last season for the final eight games and started them all. He managed only one sack and struggled to finish plays with his hand wrapped to protect it.
Pierre-Paul had surgery on the hand after the season, hoping to improve flexibility. He is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason.
___
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL