The former NFL tackle who inspired “The Blind Side” filed a petition Monday in Tennessee probate court to end his conservatorship under Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy. The petition claims the Tuohys falsely represented themselves as his adoptive parents and profited as a result.
“Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys,” the petition states. “At no point did the Tuohys inform Michael that they would have ultimate control of all his contracts, and as a result Michael did not understand that if the Conservatorship was granted, he was signing away his right to contract for himself.”
Oher is asking for the conservatorship to be terminated and to be paid the money the Tuohys made off the use of his name and story – asking for both compensatory and punitive damages determined by the court. He claims that though his life story made millions through the book and movie based on it, he received no compensation for it.
In addition, Oher’s petition alleges that he never signed the contract covering the rights to his life story. Though a signature “similar” to his appears on the contract, he claims to have no memory of signing it.
The Tuohys stated they were “devastated” by the accusations.
According to a statement issued Tuesday by attorney Martin Singer, the pair are heartbroken, but are willing to end the conservatorship if that is what Oher wants. However, the statement also accused the lawsuit of being a “shakedown,” and that the Tuohys would defend their good names.
The statement further alleges that Oher has attempted this multiple times, but attorneys drop his case when they “learn the truth.” It calls the idea that the Tuohys would “connive to withhold a few thousand dollars” from Oher while being worth millions “transparently ridiculous.”
(Photo by Jeff Weese | CC BY 2.0)
