For the fourth time within the final seven months, an worker of the Phoenix Suns is suing the franchise citing allegations of discrimination, harassment and illegal retaliation.
The newest lawsuit was filed by attorneys representing Gene Traylor, who was employed by the crew in January 2023 because the director of security, safety and danger administration.
What does the lawsuit say about Josh Bartelstein’s ‘affair’ with Sophie Cunningham?
One of many key speaking factors to come back out of the lawsuit was an alleged affair between Phoenix Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein and WNBA participant Sophie Cunningham.
The lawsuit states Traylor instructed Bartelstein that Dan Craig, the Vice President of Safety and Danger Administration, was ‘spreading damaging details about him that would jeopardize the organisation.’
Craig, in dialog with Traylor and others, stated Bartelstein, a married man of three years, was having sexual relations with Cunningham who performed for the Mercury for six seasons earlier than she was traded to the Indiana Fever in January.
What was within the safety evaluation that led to Traylor’s demotion?
Traylor, tasked with evaluating the group’s security, monetary and reputational dangers, claims he supplied a safety evaluation which led to retaliation from administration and later a demotion.
In 2023, Traylor submitted a safety evaluation for administration that outlined particular incidents together with:
- A former part-time worker stole greater than $40,000 in sneakers, attire and merchandise
- A ‘disgruntled topic’ interrupted a Suns photo-op with crew executives together with CEO Josh Bartelstein
- A political influencer ‘harassed’ former Phoenix Mercury participant Brittney Griner at an airport, delaying a crew flight by 3½ hours
The grievance alleges the Suns failed a number of safety checks and in response to the lawsuit, the Phoenix Police’s Homeland Protection Bureau performed area checks in 2023 and 2024 the place plainclothes officers had been capable of smuggle knives and handguns into the Footprint Middle.
Traylor additionally alleges the crew discouraged him from taking protected depart when he was recognized with most cancers.
What are the opposite lawsuits towards the Phoenix Suns?
Andrea Trischan, former program supervisor of variety, fairness and inclusion for the Suns, cited allegations of harassment, racial discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination – and she or he is looking for $60 million in damages.
In March of this yr, Jason Cope – a former member of the crew’s SunsVision division since 2009 – sued the crew over being misclassified as an unbiased contractor, by which he was denied advantages and extra time.
Final month in April, an unnamed former worker alleged racial and gender discrimination alongside sexual harassment and retaliation by a former Suns government – and they’re looking for undisclosed damages.
