Michael Oher ‘Demands $15 MILLION From Tuohy Family’ Before Petitioning Court To End Conservatory He Claims His ‘Adopted’ Parents Could Benefit From The Blind Side, Lawyer Says
- Michael Oher reportedly demanded $15 million from Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy
- Oher has petitioned a Tennessee court to end the Tuohy’s conservatory
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Michael Oher demanded $15 million from Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy before filing a petition to end the family’s conservatorship over him, according to a statement from a lawyer to DailyMail.com.
Oher, the former NFL offensive lineman who became the inspiration for the book and movie, The Blind Side, filed a petition Monday in a Tennessee court accusing the family of lying about adopting him. Instead, the petitioner alleges, the Tuohys made him sign papers making them his conservators, then used that arrangement to profit from his story when the book and movie became popular more than a decade ago.
But according to attorney Marty Singer, who represents the Tuohys, Oher had previously threatened the family and demanded an eight-figure payday. And if they didn’t, Singer claims, former standout Ole Miss said he would “plant a negative story about them in the press.”
Singer denied Oher’s claims, saying the Tuohy family had not tricked him into agreeing to enter the conservatory when he was 18.
Instead, Singer said in his statement, the conservatory was “established to serve Mr. Oher’s needs, ranging from obtaining him health insurance and obtaining a driver’s license to assisting with admission to the University. Should Mr. Oher wish to terminate the Conservatory now or at any time in the future, the Tuohys will not object in any way.”
Michael Oher (center) allegedly demanded $15 million from Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy
Michael Oher made $34.5 million in nine NFL seasons after the release of The Blind Side
Singer also rejected Oher’s claim that the Tuohy family used that conservatory to deny him millions in profits from the film.
“The idea that a couple worth hundreds of millions of dollars would conspire to withhold a few thousand dollars in profit-sharing payments from anyone — let alone someone they loved as a son — defies belief” Singer said.
Singer did acknowledge that the Tuohys received “a small advance from the production company and a small percentage of the film’s net profits,” which they either shared with Oher or attempted to share with him, the lawyer said.
“Over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal share of every penny he 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 extortion attempt refused to cash the Tuohy’s petty profit checks, they still deposited Mr. Oher’s equal share in a trust account they opened for his son.”
The 23rd pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, Oher enjoyed a successful nine-year career despite some injury problems. After five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, including a Super Bowl win, 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 his privacy during his legal battle.
“I am disheartened by the revelation shared today in the court case,” Oher said People. com in a statement. “This is a difficult situation for my family and me. I would like to ask everyone to respect our privacy at this time. For now I will let the lawsuit speak for itself and I will not comment further.’