Defamation case against Fresno trustee is headed to trial. Here's what to know

The Fresno Unified school board meets in closed session Wednesday to discuss the defamation lawsuit against Trustee Keshia Thomas.

While the agenda does not reveal exactly what will be discussed, past public comments from the district indicate the board may discuss whether to keep paying her personal legal bills.

The district and Thomas are defendants in a defamation lawsuit by former Bullard High School football coach Don Arax. In a 2022 podcast, Thomas alleged Arax used a racial slur against her son years ago at a football camp. Arax denied the allegation and filed a lawsuit.

Here are key takeaways

• Mediation last week in front of retired California Supreme Court Justice Carlos R. Moreno failed to produce a settlement, clearing the way for a Dec. 7 trial.
• The district filed a motion asking for an early judgment in the case, which could excuse them from the lawsuit. A hearing is set for Oct. 7.
• Fresno Unified has spent roughly $370,000 defending the district and Thomas — $235,330 for the district and $134,421 for Thomas personally through June 9 — with trustees signaling they may reconsider covering her personal legal costs.
• Thomas’ son, Albert Alford Jr., filed a sworn declaration July 27 stating former Bullard High football coach Don Arax never used a racial slur against him and that at age 14 he told his mother a version of events that “wasn’t true.”
• Thomas issued a formal apology to Arax and his family on Aug. 18 after the Fresno Teachers Association called for her resignation, but she has refused to step down or exit her Nov. 3 City Council race against Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula.
• Thomas made the accusation on a 2022 GV Wire podcast, saying Arax used a slur against her middle-school-age son at a 2013 football camp; Arax denied it, left Bullard and sued for defamation.
• Fresno County Superior Court Judge Kristi Culver Kapetan denied Thomas’ motion to be dismissed in July, noting inconsistencies in her 2025 deposition that could raise issues at trial.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content. Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.

This story was originally published September 9, 2026 at 1:36 PM.