Ex-Bullard High coach’s defamation suit over racial slur accusation enters 5th year
Former Bullard High School football coach Don Arax’s lawsuit against Fresno Unified School District and trustee Keshia Thomas is still ongoing, and the matter won’t make it to trial for another year.
The former coach says Thomas, during a broadcast interview with GV Wire, accused him of using a racial slur against one of her sons. Arax denies the accusation and is suing Thomas and Fresno Unified for defamation.
“Mr. Arax is informed and believes that Ms. Thomas, acting as an FUSD agent, has and continues to defame Mr. Arax,” Arax said in his complaint.
The case, entering its fifth calendar year, appears to have been stalled by red tape sparked by appeals and issues surrounding the discovery process.
Arax filed the complaint in August 2022, and despite attorneys for Thomas and the district attempting to have the case dismissed, a jury trial was set for Dec. 7, 2026.
Fresno Unified continues to argue that Thomas didn’t make her comments in her official capacity as an elected trustee — though the district contends that her comments would’ve been privileged if she had done so. Thomas says her statement was “privileged, and defensible as true,” according to records.
Arax is seeking financial compensation. Meanwhile, Fresno Unified and Thomas separately deny that Arax has suffered any damages, and they want their legal costs covered.
Attorneys for Fresno Unified and Keshia Thomas did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. Arax’s attorney was unable to comment on-record prior to publication.
