Former NFL offensive tackle Michael Oher, whose life story inspired the acclaimed film "The Blind Side," has ignited a contentious legal battle with the Tuohy family. Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy dismiss Oher's allegations of benefiting at his expense as "outlandish" and part of an elaborate "shakedown".
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy are categorizing Michael Oher's allegations of them benefiting at his cost as “outlandish," "hurtful and absurd" and part of a "shakedown" by the former NFL offensive tackle. Their connection with the family served as the inspiration for the film "The Blind Side."
A statement released on Tuesday stated that the Tuohys are currently grappling with profound heartache. They assert that Oher went as far as coercively proposing to disseminate a detrimental story about them unless a substantial sum of $15 million was paid to him.
On Monday, Oher submitted a formal request to the Shelby County Probate Court, seeking the termination of a conservatorship that was established by the Tuohys back in August 2004, shortly after he reached the age of 18.
In the context of a conservatorship, the appointed conservator is granted legal authority to make decisions on behalf of another individual, all without necessitating a familial relationship. The individual facing challenges, such as a disability, simply needs to execute the appropriate legal documentation to establish the conservatorship, mirroring Oher's situation.
The petition submitted by Oher stated that he had agreed to the Conservatorship under the impression that it would integrate him into the Tuohy family, only to later discover that it did not establish any genuine familial ties with the Tuohys.
In adoption legislation, an adoptee becomes a full-fledged and enduring member of the adopting party's family under the purview of adoption laws. These laws exhibit variability across different states, with certain states imposing age-related constraints on the adoption process. For instance, Tennessee, which holds significance as the home state of Oher and the Tuohys, falls within the category of states permitting adults to adopt individuals above the age of 18.
Oher relocated to live with the Tuohys shortly before entering his final year of high school. He subsequently enrolled at the University of Mississippi, where Sean Tuohy had also studied. Oher is now requesting a comprehensive assessment of his financial holdings, as he believes that his remarkable life journey has generated substantial wealth, yet he claims to have received no benefits.
Expressing his long standing disapproval of the film depicting his life, Oher additionally petitions for the Tuohys to face penalties and be held accountable for compensatory and punitive reparations to be determined by the legal system.