Tuohys heartbroken, seek to terminate Oher’s conservatorship, lawyers confirm.
Prominent Memphis Couple Seeks to End Conservatorship Challenged by Michael Oher
A prominent Memphis couple, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, who have a longstanding relationship with former NFL player Michael Oher, are taking steps to end the conservatorship that he is currently challenging in court, according to their lawyers.
Lawyer Randall Fishman announced on Wednesday that the Tuohys intend to enter into a consent order to terminate the conservatorship.
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Michael Oher, now 37, filed a petition on Monday in a Tennessee probate court, accusing the Tuohys of deceiving him by having him sign papers designating them as his conservators instead of his adoptive parents almost twenty years ago.
Oher is seeking a full accounting of his assets, considering the significant financial success generated by his life story, as depicted in the Oscar-nominated movie “The Blind Side.” He claims that he received nothing from the film and alleges that the conservatorship did not provide him with any familial relationship to the Tuohys, a fact he discovered in February 2023.
However, the Tuohys’ attorneys argue that Oher was well aware that he had not been adopted. Fishman pointed out that Oher mentioned the Tuohys’ role 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 Oher and the Tuohys have been estranged for approximately ten years. Steve Farese stated that Oher has become increasingly vocal and threatening during this time, which has been devastating for the family.
The Tuohys vehemently deny the allegations, calling them a ridiculous shakedown attempt. In a statement released by their lawyers, they revealed that Oher had previously threatened to plant a negative news story about them unless they paid him $15 million.
Oher’s lawyers have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The conservatorship paperwork was filed several months after Oher turned 18 in May 2004. Oher accuses the Tuohys of failing to take legal action to obtain custody from the Tennessee Department of Human Services before he reached adulthood, despite being referred to as “Mom” and “Dad” by the couple.
Oher alleges that the Tuohys had him sign paperwork immediately after he moved in, as part of the adoption process. He claims that he was falsely advised that it would be called a conservatorship due to his age, but that adoption was the true intention.
The Tuohys’ attorneys explain that the couple did not simply adopt Oher because the conservatorship was the quickest way to address concerns raised by the NCAA regarding the Tuohys potentially influencing a talented athlete to attend their alma mater, the University of Mississippi, where Oher eventually enrolled.
Oher, who has never been a fan of the movie about his life, is requesting that the Tuohys be sanctioned and required by the probate court to pay damages. He also seeks to receive the compensation he believes he is owed, along with interest.
The Tuohys’ lawyers state that the couple received a small 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 percentage of net profits, which was divided equally among a group that included Oher. The lawyers estimate that each party received $100,000, with the couple paying taxes on Oher’s portion on his behalf.
“They don’t need his money,” Farese emphasized. “They’ve never needed his money. Mr. Tuohy sold his company for $220 million.”
Martin Singer, an attorney for the Tuohys, stated that profit participation checks and studio accounting statements support their claims. The movie earned Sandra Bullock an Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy.
When Oher refused to cash the checks, the Tuohys deposited his share into a trust account.
The Tuohys assert that they established the conservatorship out of concern for Oher’s well-being and deny any wrongdoing.
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