In a rather unsurprising development, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has elected to sue ESPN and Adam Schefter for releasing his medical records following the fireworks incident last summer that mangled Pierre-Paul’s right hand.
Jason Pierre-Paul sues @espn, @AdamSchefter for publishing Pierre-Paul’s medical records https://t.co/0ZQHwoMuaP
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 25, 2016
Schefter tweeted a specific medical chart showing the gravity of Pierre-Paul’s injury without consent.
ESPN obtained medical charts that show Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul had right index finger amputated today. pic.twitter.com/VI5cbS1uCw
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 8, 2015
According to the New York Post (which broke the story), Pierre-Paul, 27, sued Schefter and ESPN in a Florida court on Wednesday citing a violation of his privacy.
“Schefter ‘improperly obtained’ Pierre-Paul’s medical chart showing the defensive end had his right index finger amputated and posting the record on Twitter to nearly 4 million followers,” the suit says.
“This action arises out of ESPN reporter Schefter’s blatant disregard for the private and confidential nature of plaintiff’s medical records, all so Schefter could show the world that he had ‘supporting proof’ of a surgical procedure,” the suit says.
Pierre-Paul’s Miami-Dade County civil suit claims while the incident was undoubtedly a public manner, his medical chart most certainly wasn’t.
All parties involved have yet to publicly comment.
Anyone who has made an attempt to get their own medical records from an old doctor knows this is typically quite the chore. Thus, Pierre-Paul appears to have a strong case.
Ultimately, a settlement will likely be struck, as everyone involved has an incredibly important reputation to uphold that could be further damaged if a lengthy legal battle plays out in the press.
