Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy have vehemently denied allegations made by former NFL player Michael Oher, claiming that they manipulated him into a conservatorship instead of adopting him, and profited from his name while leaving him with nothing. Oher filed a lawsuit seeking to terminate the conservatorship, but the Tuohys’ lawyer, Martin Singer, has called it a “shakedown” attempt by Oher.
In a statement obtained by The Associated Press, the Tuohy family lawyer expressed their disappointment with the lawsuit and labelled it as “hurtful and absurd.” Singer also revealed that Oher had previously attempted to extort money from the Tuohys by threatening to tarnish their reputation in the media if they didn’t pay him a substantial sum of $15 million.
Singer further added that the accusations made against the Tuohys are not only offensive but also “transparently ridiculous.” The statement emphasized that the Tuohys, who are worth hundreds of millions of dollars from their ownership of fast-food franchises, had no need to withhold any money from Oher.
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, the Tuohys stated that they hope for reconciliation with Oher in the future. However, they remain committed to defending their reputation and defeating what they describe as an offensive lawsuit.
While the Tuohys acknowledge having a conservatorship over Oher, they assert that it was solely established to provide him with health insurance, a driver’s license, and college admission assistance. The Tuohys have stated that they will not oppose Oher’s desire to terminate the conservatorship.
In an interview, Sean Tuohy expressed his devastation over the lawsuit but assured that his love for Oher remains intact. He emphasized that their intention was never to profit from any of their children, including Oher. Sean Tuohy also revealed that they had attempted to adopt Oher around the same time the conservatorship was established. However, due to Oher’s age at the time, which was already over 18, adoption became legally impossible. Thus, the Tuohys chose the conservatorship as an alternative.
Oher filed a petition in court seeking the termination of the conservatorship, claiming that he was misled into believing it would make him a member of the Tuohy family. He alleges that he only discovered after 2023 that the conservatorship provided him with no familial relationship with the Tuohys.
Furthermore, Oher is requesting a full accounting of his assets, as he believes his life story, which inspired the movie “The Blind Side,” generated millions of dollars without him receiving any compensation.
It should be noted that Oher has never held a favorable opinion of the movie based on his life, as he asserts that the Tuohy family’s adoption of him was misrepresented. He alleges that while the Tuohy family members received significant financial gain from the film, he received nothing in return.
Oher’s lawyer, J. Gerard Stranch IV, uncovered the conservatorship papers, which indicated that Oher was never officially adopted by the Tuohys. Stranch states that discovering this truth devastated Oher and caused him significant distress.
According to the Tuohys’ statement, they only received a small advance and a percentage of net profits from the production company for “The Blind Side.” This was done through negotiations with agents and was divided equally between the Tuohys and Oher. They claim to have evidence, including profit participation checks and accounting statements, to support these assertions.
The Tuohys mention that Oher refused to cash the profit checks, which they describe as small, as part of his alleged extortion efforts. Instead, they deposited Oher’s share into a trust account for his son. The statement also reveals that Oher has attempted similar actions in the past but they stopped once his lawyers realized the truth. The Tuohys characterize this lawsuit as part of Oher’s latest book tour, implying a lack of sincerity.
Michael Oher enjoyed a successful NFL career, initially playing for the Baltimore Ravens and later for the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers. He was the 23rd overall pick in the 2009 draft and won a Super Bowl with the Ravens. After playing 110 games over eight seasons, Oher retired from professional football.
In summary, the legal battle between Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy and Michael Oher intensifies as both parties present their versions of events. The dispute revolves around allegations of manipulation, extortion, and profiting from Oher’s story, as portrayed in the movie “The Blind Side.” The ongoing lawsuit seeks to terminate the conservatorship established by the Tuohys in 2004, while also demanding an accounting of Oher’s assets.
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