Suns Facing Another Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit: Report

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly facing another workplace discrimination lawsuit. The plaintiff, Jason Cope, has said that little has changed within the organization since former owner Robert Sarver sold the team to Mat Ishbia.

According to Phoenix New Times, Cope started a draft among colleagues about this but not enough people signed on. However, he did believe that the Suns management did realize what he was doing.

Multiple weeks after this, Cope and others received an email that if they wanted to keep working they would need to sign new agreements. These agreements would classify them as independent contractors so Cope and others would lose their benefits and overtime ability.

"It didn't sit right with me," Cope said. "I was the last person to sign a contract because I was so against it."

Cope has now filed a federal lawsuit against the Suns, who he believes retaliated against him. The suit claims that they treated him poorly based on his age and forced employees to work in a rat-infested parking garage.

The amount of damages that Cope is seeking wasn't specified in the suit. But this is now the second time that the Suns have had this type of lawsuit against them.

In 2022, there were widespread allegations of racism and misogyny that were reported by ESPN. Former owner Robert Sarver was forced to sell the team and new owner Mat Ishbia came in.

Ishbia has said that he was going to change the environment within the Suns organization but it seems that things may have not changed in Phoenix. This new lawsuit looks concerning but it remains to be seen what will transpire from these allegations.

Cope has the same attorney, Sheree Wright of IBF Law, as Andrea Trischan. Trischan, a former manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion, sued the team for racial discrimination and retaliation.

The Suns' vice president of communications released a statement about the lawsuit.

"This is yet another attempt by attorney Sheree Wright to engineer a lawsuit using false claims, and this time it is based on age discrimination," wrote Stacey Mitch, the senior vice president of communications for the Suns and the Mercury. "Ms. Wright is currently on probation by the Supreme Court of Arizona for unethical practices. This clearly defines her character, and we will not be extorted by her shameful scheme."

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