Orlando city commissioner plans to sue former firefighter

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill said during a news conference Friday that she plans to press charges and will file a lawsuit against a former Orlando firefighter.

Josh Granada admitted that he recorded a 30-second audio clip of Hill during a medical call at the Double Tree Hotel on Aug. 27. Granada told his supervisors and the union president in an email that he recorded audio for his protection because he saw “a scene deteriorating and a patient becoming belligerent toward the crew."

The Orlando Fire Department said Granada played the audio at the fire station for the other firefighters.

Granada was fired last week for violating the federal privacy laws involving Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Granada is fighting to get his job back, claiming he has post-traumatic stress disorder from the Pulse shooting on June 12, 2016, and that his firing was in retaliation for his multiple requests for help in coping with his PTSD.

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"I understand how it is to be in pain mentally, but what I don't agree with is going back to the station and showing it to your boys that wasn't on the call and laughing and talking about it, saying, 'We got something on her,'" Hill said to Channel 9's Shannon Butler.

Hill said the details surrounding the medical call should be kept private, and that day she was grieving her daughter's loss two years before.

"No one should fear they might be recorded without their knowledge. It doesn't matter who you are a resident, or the 68 million who visit Orlando or a city commissioner," Hill said.

If the lawsuit moves forward, details of the medical call and interviews at the time of the emergency will become public record.

"I will defend myself. I will not be slandered and defamed. I worked too hard," Hill said to Butler.

Hill told the public Friday that she is concerned about Granada's actions.

"Mr. Granada did not only record me, he went through my personal belongings. He admitted he was looking for paraphernalia and drugs. I am saddened, and by this breach of confidentially, I have decided to fully press charges and prosecute Mr. Granada," Hill said.

Video: Orlando firefighter accused of recording city commissioner

Orlando firefighters told Eyewitness News that they often go through people's belongings on medical calls to see what kind of medication the patient could be on that may have prompted the medical emergency.

Geoff Bichler, Granada's attorney, said in a statement to Eyewitness News, "Mr. Granada will defend himself against the baseless and defamatory allegations raised by Commissioner Hill during her ill advised press conference.

"He welcomes a complete investigation from law enforcement and/or any independent fact finding body.

"Mr. Granada will answer any civil complaint with a swift answer and counterclaim against the city and the Commissioner.

:Commissioner Hill should stop trying to distract the taxpayers from her own shameful behavior with scurrilous allegations against a decorated hero, and take responsibility for the events leading to this wrongful termination. It's time for the true story to be told here free of Commissioner Hill's self serving spin."

Watch the news conference below:

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