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 threat 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 advised Bartelstein that Dan Craig, the Vice President of Safety and Danger Administration, was ‘spreading damaging details about him that might 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.
L: Sophie Cunningham – R: Josh Bartelstein
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 accordance with the lawsuit, the Phoenix Police’s Homeland Protection Bureau performed discipline checks in 2023 and 2024 the place plainclothes officers had been in a position to 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 range, fairness and inclusion for the Suns, cited allegations of harassment, racial discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination – and she or he is in search of $60 million in damages.
In March of this 12 months, Jason Cope – a former member of the crew’s SunsVision division since 2009 – sued the crew over being misclassified as an impartial contractor, during which he was denied advantages and time beyond regulation.
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 in search of undisclosed damages.
