Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Filed by Former Florida A&M Athletic Director

The lawsuit filed by former Florida A&M athletic director Kortne Gosha claiming he was forced to resign after reporting misconduct has been dismissed by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled in favor of the university, stating that there was no evidence of discrimination or retaliation in Gosha’s termination.

Gosha, who served with Florida A&M from December 2019 to December 2022, alleged that he was pressured into resigning and signed a severance agreement under duress. However, the judge found that the agreement was valid as Gosha willingly signed it and accepted payments.

The controversy stemmed from a broadcast rights deal Gosha made with Urban Edge Networks without proper university approval. The deal reportedly violated his employment agreement and led to concerns about university policy violations.

Despite the dismissal of the lawsuit, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding Gosha’s departure and the handling of the broadcast rights deal. Florida A&M officials were reportedly unaware of certain aspects of the agreement, including a FAMU-branded NASCAR vehicle.

Gosha, who previously worked at Tulane University, has not commented on the allegations. The SWAC has since restricted schools from signing individual national rights deals, emphasizing the importance of following proper procedures and obtaining approval from university officials.