Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

2 hours ago

US House Republicans Head Toward Final Vote on Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut Bill

3 hours ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

3 hours ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

3 hours ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

3 hours ago

Trump Vowed to Dismantle MS-13. His Deal With Bukele Threatens That Effort.

1 day ago

Ukraine Voices Concern as US Halts Some Missile Shipments

1 day ago

What’s Next for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs After His Sex Trafficking Trial?

1 day ago
Bullard Coach's Lawsuit Against School Trustee May Proceed, Judge Rules
NANCY WEBSITE HEADSHOT 1
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 3 years ago on
December 19, 2022

Share

Bullard football Coach Donny Arax’s defamation suit against Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas and the school district may continue, although a portion of the suit has been dismissed, Fresno Superior Court Judge Kristi Culver Kapetan ruled last week.

Thomas and the district had attempted to have the entire lawsuit thrown out through anti-SLAPP motions. So-called SLAPP lawsuits — Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation — are those that are brought in an effort to intimidate a person or business into silence.

Thomas and the district had contended that Arax’s defamation lawsuit was an effort to silence public discussion about the issue of racism in connection with the northwest Fresno high school.

Arax’s suit stemmed from allegations Thomas made on “Unfiltered,” the public affairs program hosted by GV Wire publisher Darius Assemi that’s live-streamed on Facebook, that Arax had used racial slurs in front of her son during a football practice.

The show’s focus was racism in the Fresno Unified School District and a social media post in which a Bullard student was wearing a head covering that resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood. The post sparked outrage, student walkouts and marches, and pressure on the school district to expel the students involved.

On the show, Thomas said her son, now 23, “goes to football practice where he has Arax calling him a (N-word), and he decides he’s not playing for Bullard anymore.”

Partial Victory for anti-SLAPP Motions

Kapetan ruled that the portion of Arax’s suit based on Thomas’ comments in a May 20 story in GV Wire in which she responded to Arax calling her a “liar” would be struck from the suit because there was no proof her comments were false.

However, Kapetan allowed the lawsuit to continue based on Thomas’ original comments on “Unfiltered” and reports of those comments in GV Wire stories.

In addition, Kapetan denied the defendants’ motion for attorney’s fees for the portion of the lawsuit struck as a result of the anti-SLAPP motion.

“The court is mindful that fees awarded to a defendant who was only partially successful on an anti-SLAPP motion should be commensurate with the extent to which the motion changed the nature and character of the lawsuit in a practical way. … Since there was no significant, practical change, fees will not be awarded,” the judge ruled.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

DON'T MISS

Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing

DON'T MISS

Ex-Jan. 6 Defendant Gets Life in Prison for Plot to Kill FBI Agents

DON'T MISS

Del Monte Files for Bankruptcy. Gets Nearly $1B to Keep Producing Through Process

DON'T MISS

Who is Running for Fresno Area Offices in 2026? An Updated Look

DON'T MISS

CIA Review Finds Flaws but Does Not Dispute Finding Putin Sought to Sway 2016 Vote to Trump

DON'T MISS

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

DON'T MISS

Check Out Newest Downtown Mural. It’s a Spectacular Tribute to Fresno Artisans

DON'T MISS

US Judge Blocks Trump Asylum Ban at US-Mexico Border, Says He Exceeded Authority

DON'T MISS

Fresno Fire Investigators Seek Public’s Help in Arson Case

UP NEXT

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

UP NEXT

Trump’s Administration Finds Harvard Violated Students’ Civil Rights, WSJ Reports

UP NEXT

University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure From Trump Administration

UP NEXT

Despite $49M Deficit, Fresno Unified Gives Top Brass 5% Raise, 3% One-Time Bonus

UP NEXT

US House Committee Subpoenas Harvard Over Tuition Costs

UP NEXT

Why Is Usually Sleepy Fresno County Schools Superintendent Race Suddenly Hot?

UP NEXT

US Justice Department to Probe Hiring Practices at University of California

UP NEXT

What Does the Fresno County Schools Superintendent Do? Read This Q&A to Find Out

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Orders CA to Strip Trans Athlete of Medals

UP NEXT

Clovis Unified Faces Lawsuit Alleging Years of Neglect and Sexual Abuse at Fancher Creek

Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

Trump Administration Will Focus on Fed Chair Replacement in Fall, Bessent Says

1 hour ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

2 hours ago

US Paves Way to Resume Ethane Exports to China Amid Trade Truce

2 hours ago

US Supreme Court Won’t Consider Reviving Montana Abortion Parental Consent Law

2 hours ago

US Imposes New Sanctions Targeting Iran Oil Trade, Hezbollah, Treasury Dept Says

3 hours ago

Keep Pets Safe on 4th of July: Fresno County Animal Shelter Offers Tips

3 hours ago

US House Republicans Head Toward Final Vote on Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut Bill

3 hours ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

3 hours ago

Supreme Court’s Conservatives Leaned Into US Culture Wars With Transgender Cases

3 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to 35,000 Acres, More Evacuations Ordered

3 hours ago

Could Cuddly Colby Be the Darling Gem for You?

From his super soft topaz-and-ivory coat to his easy and affectionate personality, sweet 1-year-old Colby is a tabby-man classic! He’s never...

17 minutes ago

Colby, a classic tabby, is GV Wire's Adoptable Pet of the Week, July 3, 2025
17 minutes ago

Could Cuddly Colby Be the Darling Gem for You?

Sandra Neredia Jaquez is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for July 3, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
22 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Sandra Neredia Jaquez

47 minutes ago

Trump Impounds Billions in Education Funding. For Fresno Unified, It’s $7.1 Million

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent speaks during a press conference following a weekly policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 24, 2025. (Reuters)
1 hour ago

Trump Administration Will Focus on Fed Chair Replacement in Fall, Bessent Says

2 hours ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

U.S. and Chinese flags are seen in this illustration taken March 20, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

US Paves Way to Resume Ethane Exports to China Amid Trade Truce

A general view of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S., June 1, 2024. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

US Supreme Court Won’t Consider Reviving Montana Abortion Parental Consent Law

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass U.S. President Donald Trump?s sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 27, 2025. (Reuters File)
3 hours ago

US Imposes New Sanctions Targeting Iran Oil Trade, Hezbollah, Treasury Dept Says

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend