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A prominent couple in Memphis, Tennessee, who have a longstanding connection to former NFL player Michael Oher, are seeking to end a conservatorship that Oher is currently challenging in court, according to their attorneys. Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy plan to enter into a consent order to terminate the conservatorship, lawyer Randall Fishman stated during a press conference on Wednesday.
Oher recently filed a petition in a Tennessee probate court, alleging that the Tuohys lied to him when they had him sign papers designating them as his conservators, rather than his adoptive parents, nearly twenty years ago. Now 37 years old, Oher is seeking a full accounting of his assets, claiming that his life story, which was the inspiration behind the acclaimed movie “The Blind Side,” generated millions of dollars but he received no compensation. Oher also asserts that the Tuohys misrepresented themselves as his adoptive parents and that he only discovered in February 2023 that the conservatorship did not provide any familial relationship with them.
Michael Oher says the Tuohys profited from his trust in them. (CNN, YOUTUBE, THE JIM ROME SHOW, WARNER BROS. PICTURES, THE BLIND SIDE, BARSTOOL SPORTS, GETTY IMAGES, FAMILY PHOTOS, SHELBY COUNTY PROBATE COURT)
However, the Tuohys’ attorneys argue that Oher was aware that he had not been legally adopted. Fishman pointed out that Oher mentioned the Tuohys serving as his conservators three times in his first book, “I Beat The Odds: From Homeless, To The Blind Side,” published in 2011.
The attorneys also revealed that the Tuohys and Oher have been estranged for approximately a decade. Steve Farese stated that Oher has become increasingly volatile and threatening over the past ten years, which has been devastating for the family.
Regarding the allegations, the Tuohys referred to them as a baseless attempt at extortion, emphasizing that a court of law is not the appropriate forum for such tactics. In a statement released by their lawyers, they disclosed that Oher had previously threatened to create a negative public narrative about them unless they paid him $15 million.
Oher’s legal team has not responded to requests for comment at this time.
The conservatorship arrangement was established shortly after Oher turned 18 in May 2004. Oher accuses the Tuohys of failing to take legal action to secure custody from the Tennessee Department of Human Services before he reached adulthood, even though they instructed him to call them “Mom” and “Dad.”
According to Oher’s claims, the Tuohys had him sign paperwork immediately after he moved in with them as part of the adoption process. Oher contends that he was misled into believing that it would be a conservatorship due to his age, but adoption was the true intention.
Fishman explained that the Tuohys did not choose to adopt Oher directly because the conservatorship was the most expedient way to address concerns raised by the NCAA, which was wary of the Tuohys potentially influencing Oher’s decision to attend their alma mater, the University of Mississippi.
Oher, who has expressed his disapproval of the movie adaptation of his life, is requesting that the Tuohys face sanctions and be compelled by the probate court to pay damages. He also seeks to receive the compensation he believes he is owed, along with interest.
According to the Tuohys’ lawyers, the couple negotiated a modest advance from the production company of “The Blind Side,” based on a book written by Sean Tuohy’s friend Michael Lewis. This advance included a small percentage of net profits, which was evenly distributed among a group that included Oher.
The attorneys estimate that Oher, as well as each of the Tuohys, received $100,000. Additionally, the couple paid taxes on Oher’s portion on his behalf. Fishman emphasized that “Michael got every dime, every dime he had coming.”
Farese remarked that the Tuohys do not rely on Oher’s financial contributions, stating, “They’ve never needed his money. Mr. Tuohy sold his company for $220 million.”
Attorney Martin Singer, who represents the Tuohys, stated that profit participation checks and studio accounting statements support their claims. The movie, which featured Sandra Bullock in an Oscar-winning performance as Leigh Anne Tuohy, has garnered significant acclaim.
The Tuohys stated that they established the conservatorship to assist Oher with obtaining health insurance, a driver’s license, and admission to college. In Tennessee, conservatorships are typically utilized when an individual has a medical condition or disability that impairs their decision-making abilities.
However, Oher’s petition argues that his conservatorship was approved despite not having any diagnosed physical or psychological disabilities while being over 18 years old.
Oher, who was selected as the 23rd overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft from the University of Mississippi, spent his first five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, ultimately winning a Super Bowl. He played a total of 110 games across eight NFL seasons, including an 11-start season with the Tennessee Titans in 2014. Oher concluded his career with two years in Carolina.
After his release from the Carolina Panthers in 2017, Oher has been on a book tour promoting his memoir, “When Your Back’s Against the Wall: Fame, Football, and Lessons Learned Through a Lifetime of Adversity.”
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