A discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by former Phoenix Suns director of safety, security and risk management Gene Traylor was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice on Thursday, meaning the case cannot be refiled. The Suns confirmed there was no settlement or payment involved.
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Traylor, who joined the organization in January 2023, had alleged discrimination, harassment and retaliation in a suit filed in May 2025 in U.S. District Court in Arizona. His attorneys issued a joint statement noting a confidentiality agreement and describing the dismissal as a procedural step both sides deemed appropriate, without commenting on the merits.
The Suns pushed back strongly from the start. A team spokesperson said, “As we have maintained from day one, Mr. Traylor’s claims were based on lies and entirely without merit. There was no settlement and there will be no payment to Mr. Traylor. Instead, he has now abandoned these baseless claims.”
Traylor’s case was one of several lawsuits filed against the Suns by current or former employees since late 2024, involving claims of discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination. He was terminated roughly two months after filing his suit, with the Suns stating an independent investigation found he violated company policies regarding confidential security information and was untruthful with investigators.
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The Suns are currently trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder 2-0 in their first-round playoff series, with Game 3 scheduled for Saturday in Phoenix.