Judge Cooke rules for Jason Pierre-Paul against ESPN

The NYP covers the story here:

A Florida judge has green-lighted Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul’s invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against ESPN and its reporter Adam Schefter for posting his private medical records online to millions of readers.
The ruling by Miami federal Judge Marcia G. Cooke sets the stage for the state’s second high-profile legal battle in a year between a sports star and a media organization over privacy issues. In March, wrestler Hulk Hogan won a record-breaking $140 million victory over Gawker for publishing his sex video.
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Cooke agreed in a ruling she issued from the bench Thursday morning after an hour of arguments.
“This just went beyond the pale,” sports law expert Daniel Wallach said of Schefter’s decision to post the private records.
“If this is not where the line is, where would it be?” said Wallach, of the law firm Becker & Poliakoff. Wallach, who is not involved in the case, expects the decision will mean a quick settlement.
“The judge has the case on fast track with discovery cutoff in Februrary, meaning in-season depositions,” Wallach explained.
Lawyers for ESPN and Schefter had asked the judge to toss the case, citing First Amendment protections.
Pierre-Paul is suing for unspecified damages. He is also represented by lawyers Kevin Fritz and John C. Lukacs.

Meantime, I wanted to thank all of the readers who posted comments yesterday about Hogan and Richey.  This is what the blog is all about.  Thanks.  --dm