Michael Oher allegedly demanded $15 million from Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy
Oher asked a Tennessee court to end Tuohy’s conservatorship
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Michael Oher ‘demanded $15 million from Tuohy family’ before asking court to end conservatorship he says allowed his ‘adoptive’ parents to enjoy The Blind Side, lawyer says TUOHY FAMILY STATEMENT Share or comment on this article:

Published: 3:20 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2023 | Update: 3:44 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2023

Michael Oher demanded $15million from Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy before filing a petition to end the family’s conservatorship over him, according to a lawyer’s statement provided to DailyMail.com.

Oher, the former NFL offensive lineman who became the inspiration for the book and movie, The Blind Side, filed a lawsuit Monday in Tennessee court accusing the family of lying about his adoption. Instead, according to the filing, the Tuohys had him sign papers making them his curators, then used that arrangement to cash in on his story when the book and movie were popularized more than a decade ago. years.

But according to attorney Marty Singer, who represents the Tuohys, Oher had previously threatened the family and demanded an eight-figure salary. And if they didn’t, claims Singer, the former Ole Miss star said there “would be a negative story about them in the press.”

Singer denied Oher’s claims, saying the Tuohy family did not trick him into agreeing to join the guardianship when he was 18.

Instead, Singer said in her statement, the guardianship was “established to meet Mr. Oher’s needs, ranging from obtaining health insurance and obtaining a driver’s license to college admissions assistance. If Mr. Oher wishes to terminate the guardianship, now or at any time in the future, the Tuohys will never object in any way.

Michael Oher (center) reportedly demanded $15 million from Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy

Singer also dismissed Oher’s claim that the Tuohy family used this conservatorship to deny him millions in profits from the film.

“The idea that a couple worth hundreds of millions of dollars would collude to withhold a few thousand dollars in profit-sharing payments from anyone – let alone someone they loved as a son – defies all belief,” Singer said.

Singer acknowledged that the Tuohys “received a small advance from the production company and a tiny percentage of the net profits” from the film, which they shared with Oher or tried to share with him, according to the attorney.

“Over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal share of every penny received from The Blind Side,” Singer said.

“Even recently, when Mr Oher started threatening them about what he would do unless they paid him an eight-figure windfall, and, as part of that shakedown effort, refused to take the small profit checks from the Tuohys, they still deposited Mr. Oher’s equal share into a trust account they opened for his son.

TUOHY FAMILY STATEMENT

A statement from Tuohy family attorney Martin Singer:

Anyone with a modicum of common sense can see that Michael Oher’s outlandish claims about the Tuohy family are hurtful and absurd. The idea that the Tuohys ever sought to take advantage of Mr. Oher is not only offensive, it is patently ridiculous. Through hard work and luck, Sean and Leigh Anne have earned an extraordinary amount of money in the restaurant business. The idea that a couple worth hundreds of millions of dollars would collude to withhold a few thousand dollars in profit sharing payments from anyone – let alone someone they loved as a son – defies belief.

In reality, the Tuohys opened their home to Mr. Oher, offered him structure, support, and most importantly, unconditional love. They always treated him like a son and one of their three children. His response was to threaten them, including saying he would publish a negative story about them in the press unless they paid him $15 million.

When Michael Lewis, a friend of Sean’s since childhood, was approached to turn his book about Mr. Oher and the Tuohys into a film about their family, his agents brokered a deal where they received a small advance from the company of production and a small percentage of net profits. They insisted that any money received be divided equally. And they kept that commitment.

The evidence — documented in profit-sharing checks and studio accounting statements — is clear: Over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal share of every penny received from The Blind Side. Even recently when Mr Oher started threatening them what he would do unless they paid him an eight figure windfall, and as part of that shakedown effort refused to cash in on the small profit checks from the Tuohys, they still deposited Mr. Oher’s equal share in a trust account they opened for his son.

Moreover, despite the false allegation in the lawsuit, the Tuohys have always been candid about how a conservatorship (of which not a penny was received) was established to meet Mr. Oher’s needs, ranging from getting health insurance getting a driver’s license to help with college admissions. If Mr. Oher wishes to end the guardianship, now or at any time in the future, the Tuohys will never object in any way.

Unbeknownst to the public, Mr Oher has actually attempted to perform this play several times before – but it appears many other lawyers quit representing him once they saw the evidence and learned the truth. Unfortunately, Mr. Oher eventually found a willing facilitator and filed this ridiculous lawsuit as a cynical attempt to gain attention in the midst of his latest book tour.

The Tuohys will always care deeply for Mr. Oher. They are heartbroken by these events. They desperately hope that he comes to regret his recent decisions, that he makes different choices in the future, and that one day they can reconcile with him. In the meantime, however, they won’t hesitate to uphold their good name, stand up to this shakedown, and defeat this offensive lawsuit.

The 23rd pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Oher enjoyed a successful nine-year career despite struggling with injuries. After five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, including a Super Bowl victory, Oher went on to play for the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers before retiring after the 2017 season.

For his career, Oher earned $34.5 million.

Oher asks the public to respect her privacy during her legal battle.

“I am disheartened by the revelation shared in today’s trial,” Oher said. People.com in a report. “This is a difficult situation for my family and I. I want to ask everyone to please respect our privacy at this time. For now, I will let the lawsuit speak for itself and I will not make any another comment.