Michael Oher demanded $15 million from Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy earlier than submitting a petition to finish the household’s conservatorship over him, based on a press release from a lawyer to DailyMail.com.
Oher, the previous NFL offensive lineman who turned the inspiration for the ebook and film, The Blind Side, filed a petition Monday in a Tennessee court docket accusing the household of mendacity about adopting him. Instead, the petitioner alleges, the Tuohys made him signal papers making them his conservators, then used that association to revenue from his story when the ebook and film turned fashionable greater than a decade in the past.
But based on lawyer Marty Singer, who represents the Tuohys, Oher had beforehand threatened the household and demanded an eight-figure payday. And in the event that they didn’t, Singer claims, former standout Ole Miss mentioned he would “plant a negative story about them in the press.”
Singer denied Oher’s claims, saying the Tuohy household had not tricked him into agreeing to enter the conservatory when he was 18.
Instead, Singer mentioned in his assertion, 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 (heart) allegedly demanded $15 million from Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy
Michael Oher made $34.5 million in 9 NFL seasons after the discharge of The Blind Side
Singer additionally rejected Oher’s declare that the Tuohy household used that conservatory to disclaim him hundreds of thousands in earnings from the movie.
“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 mentioned.
Singer did acknowledge that the Tuohys obtained “a small advance from the production company and a small percentage of the film’s net profits,” which they both shared with Oher or tried to share with him, the lawyer mentioned.
“Over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal share of every penny he received from The Blind Side,” Singer mentioned.
“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.”
TUOHY FAMILY STATEMENT
A press release from Tuohy’s household lawyer, Martin Singer:
Anyone with a modicum of widespread sense can see that Michael Oher’s outlandish claims in regards to the Tuohy household are hurtful and absurd. The concept that the Tuohys ever tried to reap the benefits of Mr. Oher isn’t simply insulting, it’s downright ridiculous. Through exhausting work and good luck, Sean and Leigh Anne have made a rare sum of money within the restaurant enterprise. The thought {that a} couple price a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} would handle to withhold a number of thousand {dollars} in profit-sharing funds from anybody — not to mention somebody they liked as a son — defies perception.
In actuality, the Tuohys opened their dwelling to Mr. Oher, providing him construction, assist, and most significantly, unconditional love. They have persistently handled him like a son and one in every of their three youngsters. His response was to threaten them, together with saying that he would run a unfavorable story about them within the press until they paid him $15 million.
When Michael Lewis, a pal of Seans since childhood, was approached to publish his ebook on Mr. Oher and the Tuohys in a film about their household, his brokers reached a deal through which they obtained a small advance from the manufacturing firm and a small share of the online revenue. They insisted that each one cash obtained be divided equally. And they fulfilled that promise.
The proof — documented in revenue share checks and studio accounting statements — is evident: Over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal share of each penny he obtained from The Blind Side. Even not too long ago, when Mr. Oher began threatening them about what he would do until they paid him an eight-figure windfall, and as a part of that extortion try the Tuohys’ petty revenue checks refused to money, they nonetheless deposited Mr. Oher’s equal share in a belief account they opened for his son.
In addition, regardless of the false allegations within the lawsuit, the Tuohys have at all times been outspoken about how a conservatory (not receiving a dime) was established to assist with Mr. Oher’s wants, starting from acquiring medical insurance for him and procure a driver’s license to assist with college admissions. Should Mr. Oher want to terminate the Conservatory now or at any time sooner or later, the Tuohys is not going to object in any manner.
Unbeknownst to the general public, Mr. Oher has really tried to play this half a number of occasions – nevertheless it appears numerous different attorneys have stopped representing him as soon as they noticed the proof and discovered the reality. Sadly, Mr. Oher has lastly discovered a prepared facilitator and filed this ridiculous lawsuit as a cynical try to realize consideration on his newest ebook tour.
The Tuohys will at all times care deeply about Mr. Oher. They are heartbroken over these occasions. They desperately hope that he’ll remorse his latest choices, make totally different selections sooner or later, and that they’ll reconcile with him sooner or later. In the meantime, nonetheless, they won’t hesitate to defend their good title, oppose this shakedown and defeat this offensive lawsuit.
The twenty third choose of the 2009 NFL Draft, Oher loved a profitable nine-year profession regardless of some damage issues. After 5 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, together with a Super Bowl win, Oher went on to play for the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers earlier than retiring after the 2017 season.
For his profession, Oher earned $34.5 million.
Oher asks the general public to respect his privateness throughout his authorized battle.
“I am disheartened by the revelation shared today in the court case,” Oher mentioned People. com in a press release. “This is a troublesome scenario for my household and me. I want to ask everybody to respect our privateness right now. For now I’ll let the lawsuit communicate for itself and I cannot remark additional.’