Jason Pierre-Paul sues ESPN, Adam Schefter over medical records

New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul sued ESPN and NFL reporter Adam Schefter on Wednesday for tweeting his medical records over the 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. The lawsuit claims Schefter "improperly obtained Plaintiff's medical records from a hospital" and then tweeted them out, writing that "ESPN obtained medical charts that show that Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul had right index finger amputated today."

Paul injured his right hand in a fireworks accident July 4. Schefter posted a photo of Pierre-Paul's medical chart July 8.

The suit cites Florida statute 456.057(11), which says that third parties who obtain medical information are prohibited from further disclosing it without the written consent of the patient or a legal representative. It does not specify a monetary figure, other than saying "is an action for damages in excess of $15,000."

ESPN said it had not received a copy of the lawsuit and declined comment.

Two employees of Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami were fired in early February for inappropriately accessing Pierre-Paul's medical records. They were identified by the Miami Herald as an operating room nurse and secretary. A lawsuit against the hospital has been settled, the hospital said in a statement in announcing the employees' firing.

The New York Post first reported the latest lawsuit Wednesday night.

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.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.