For the fourth time in the last seven months, Phoenix Suns employees have sued the franchise citing allegations of discrimination, harassment and illegal retaliation.
The latest lawsuit was filed in January 2023 by lawyers representing Genetrailer, who was hired by the team as director of safety, security and risk management.
What does the lawsuit say about Josh Bartelstein’s “event” with Sophie Cunningham?
One important story that sets out of the lawsuit was allegations of issues between the Phoenix Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein and WNBA player Sophie Cunningham.
According to the lawsuit, Trailer told Bartelstein that Dan Craig, vice president of security and risk management, is “spreading information that could potentially put an organization at risk.”
In conversations with trailers and others, Craig said that Bartelstein, a three-year married man, had a sexual relationship with Cunningham, who played for mercury for six seasons before trading for Indiana Fever in January.
What security ratings have led to the trailer’s relegation?
Taking responsibility for assessing the safety, financial and reputational risks of the organization, Traylor claims to have provided security assessments that led to retaliation from management and subsequent demobilization.
In 2023, Traylor submitted a management security assessment that outlined specific incidents, including:
- A former part-time employee stole over $40,000 on shoes, apparel and goods.
- “The Dissatisfied Subject” suspended Suns’ photo shoot with team executives, including CEO Josh Bartelstein
- Political influencer “harassed” former Phoenix Mercury player Britney Griner at the airport, delaying team flight for three and a half hours
The lawsuit alleges that the Suns failed multiple security tests, and the Phoenix Police Department’s Land Defense Department conducted field tests in 2023 and 2024, allowing Plain Cross officials to smuggle knives and handguns into the footprint center, according to the lawsuit.
The trailer also claims that the team discouraged him from taking a sheltered leave when he was diagnosed with cancer.
What are the other lawsuits against the Phoenix Suns?
Andrea Atrichian, a former program manager for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Sons, cites allegations of harassment, racism, retaliation and wrongful dismissal, and she is seeking $60 million in damages.
In March this year, Jason Coop, a former member of the team’s Suns Vision division since 2009, sued the team for being misclassified as an independent contractor.
Last month, in April, an unnamed former employee alleged racial and gender discrimination along with sexual harassment and retaliation by former Sons executives, who are seeking private damages.