A Decade of Delay: One Business Owner’s Fight for Justice. | Qhawe Brian Pittman vs NCAA and Adam Morrissey

By Qhawe Brian Pittman

Case No. SC2026-0670

For nearly ten years, my life has been defined not by opportunity, but by litigation. While many people measure time by accomplishments, I measure mine by court filings, motions, appeals, and the continued effort to have my claims heard on their legal merits.

Although the present litigation involves a six-year continuing doctrine, the underlying events began in 2016. That reality cannot be ignored. The passage of time has affected not only my livelihood but also my ability to build and sustain businesses that I believe could have positively impacted student-athletes across the country.

During that same decade, Adam Morrissey continued serving in a leadership role overseeing scouting and recruiting matters within the NCAA. While one career advanced, I found myself working numerous occupations simply to survive. I worked in acoustic engineering, private security, warehouse operations, grave digging, and other physically demanding jobs while continuing to pursue my legal claims and build my businesses.

Despite those hardships, I never abandoned my vision.

I continued developing Junior College Phenoms, Pittman’s Pocket LLC, and eventually the Pittman’s Pocket HBCU True Freshman All-Americans platform. These ventures were created to increase exposure for overlooked student-athletes, particularly those attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

My experience has also highlighted broader concerns affecting many Black-owned businesses involved in scouting, recruiting, and athletic development. In my view, these businesses often face significant obstacles in obtaining equal opportunities, funding, licensing assistance, and institutional support. Whether through public resources or private athletic organizations, many entrepreneurs continue to struggle for access that should be available on an equal basis.

The litigation itself has become another burden. I maintain that the NCAA has failed to produce evidence supporting its position while continuing to defend against my claims. Nevertheless, the litigation has continued through years of motions and procedural disputes. From my perspective, this prolonged process has consumed valuable judicial resources while delaying a decision on the merits.

As a result, I have placed multiple governmental bodies on notice, including the Second District Court of Appeal in St. Petersburg, the Attorney General of Florida, and the Florida Supreme Court, asking that the judicial process proceed fairly and efficiently.

As a Moorish American, I also believe my sincerely held beliefs deserve equal respect within our judicial system. Regardless of religious or cultural identity, every litigant deserves impartial treatment and an opportunity to have claims decided according to the law.

This case extends beyond one individual. It raises questions about equal access to justice, fair treatment of minority-owned businesses, and whether lengthy litigation can itself become a barrier to justice.

The contrast is difficult to ignore.

For the past ten years, Mr. Morrissey has continued living his professional dream.

For the past ten years, I have been struggling to prove what I believe are the facts of my case while trying to preserve my businesses and support my family.

Justice delayed should never become justice denied.

My hope is that Case No. SC2026-0670 will ultimately be decided on its legal merits so that the courts, the public, and all parties involved can move toward a fair and final resolution.

The pursuit of justice should not become a decade-long burden. It should remain what our legal system promises every citizen: an opportunity to be heard fairly, impartially, and according to the rule of law.