Michael Oher's Legal Troubles: A Troubling Story

In August 2023, former NFL player Michael Oher filed a lawsuit against Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, a wealthy Memphis couple who claimed to have adopted him when he was a high schooler in 2004. Oher alleged that the Tuohys had tricked him into signing a conservatorship agreement when he was 18 years old, which gave them the legal authority to make business deals and manage his funds. He claimed that they made millions of dollars from his story, which was depicted in the 2009 film The Blind Side, while he received little to nothing. Oher sought to terminate the conservatorship and prevent the Tuohys from using his name and likeness. The Tuohys denied the allegations, insisting that Oher knew he was signing a conservatorship to help him gain admission to college and that all profits were split evenly. A Tennessee judge ended the conservatorship in September 2023, finding it disturbing that such an agreement was put in place over someone who was not disabled. The case is still ongoing, with Oher seeking money damages and a full accounting of any money earned off his name, likeness, and story.

Michael Oher sued the Tuohy family for establishing a conservatorship over him when he was 18

In August 2023, Michael Oher sued Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, alleging that the family tricked him into a conservatorship when he was 18 years old, falsely claimed he was adopted, and used his story for financial gain.

Oher claimed that the Tuohys made millions of dollars from "The Blind Side", the 2009 film based on his life story, and that he was never paid any share of that money. He also alleged that the Tuohys exploited his story and image to turn a sizable profit and have repeatedly made false representations that they adopted him.

In response, the Tuohys denied Oher's accusations, insisting that he knew he was signing a conservatorship to help him gain admission to college football at Ole Miss, their alma mater. They denied earning millions from the film and maintained that all profits were split evenly with Oher. They also claimed that Oher never asked to terminate the conservatorship, either verbally or in writing, and that they had always acted in his best interest.

A Tennessee judge, Kathleen Gomes, ended the conservatorship in September 2023, finding it disturbing that such an agreement was put in place over someone who was not disabled. The judge ordered the Tuohys to submit an accounting of the funds earned from Oher's name and likeness, and the case is still ongoing.

Oher's lawsuit seeks to end the Tuohys' conservatorship and prohibit them from using his name and likeness. He is also seeking monetary damages and a full accounting of any money earned from his name, likeness, and story over the years.

Oher claimed the Tuohys made millions from his story, which they deny

In August 2023, Michael Oher sued Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, claiming that they tricked him into signing a conservatorship agreement when he was 18 years old. Oher alleged that the Tuohys made millions of dollars from "The Blind Side" and that he never received his share of the profits.

Oher's lawsuit seeks to end the Tuohys' conservatorship over him and prevent them from using his name and likeness. He is also seeking monetary damages and a full accounting of any money earned from his name, likeness, and story over the past 19 years.

Oher claims that the Tuohys took advantage of him and that he was never fully aware of the implications of the conservatorship agreement. He alleges that they used their power as conservators to make business deals in his name and manage his funds, including a deal for The Blind Side movie that paid them millions of dollars in royalties.

The Tuohys, however, deny Oher's accusations. They insist that Oher knew what he was signing and that the conservatorship was to help him gain admission to the college football program at Ole Miss, their alma mater. They deny earning millions from the film and maintain that all profits were split evenly with Oher.

Michael Lewis, the author of the book "The Blind Side" on which the film was based, has spoken out against Oher's claims, stating that no one involved in the book made millions of dollars from the movie. The movie's producers have also denied that the Tuohys were paid millions.

The legal battle between Oher and the Tuohys continues, with a Tennessee judge ending the conservatorship in September 2023 and ordering the Tuohys to submit an accounting of the funds earned from Oher's name and likeness.

Oher was angry about his portrayal in the book and film 'The Blind Side'

Michael Oher, whose story inspired the Oscar-nominated film The Blind Side, has expressed anger about his portrayal in both the book and the film. He felt that the narrative surrounding his life was inaccurate and painted him as "dumb".

Oher claimed that the book and film negatively impacted his draft position, stating:

> "The NFL people were wondering if I could read a playbook."

He also said that the book and film made others question his intelligence:

> "I started seeing stuff that I’m dumb. I’m stupid. Every article about me mentioned The Blind Side, like it was part of my name."

Oher's portrayal in The Blind Side also caused him to worry about how his family would be perceived:

> "If my kids can’t do something in class, will their teacher think, ‘Their dad is dumb — is that why they’re not getting it?'"

Oher's anger about his portrayal in The Blind Side is a significant aspect of his lawsuit against Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy. He is seeking to terminate their conservatorship over him and prevent them from using his name and likeness. Oher also seeks monetary damages and a full accounting of any money earned from his name, likeness, and story.

Oher said the film negatively impacted his draft position

Michael Oher, the subject of the Oscar-nominated film 'The Blind Side', has been involved in a legal battle with the Tuohy family, whom he accused of exploiting his story and image for financial gain. Oher claimed that the film negatively impacted his career, leading to his draft position being affected.

Oher, a former NFL player, filed a lawsuit against Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, alleging that they had established a conservatorship over him when he was 18 years old, rather than adopting him as he had believed. The Tuohys profited from the film and book deals, while Oher claimed he received little to nothing. Oher's story, which inspired the film, depicted his journey from homelessness to NFL stardom.

Oher expressed his disdain for the film, stating that it portrayed him as unintelligent and negatively impacted his career. He felt that people judged his skills as a football player based on the movie, rather than his actual performance. He also believed that the film put him in a different light than other players in his position, leading to increased scrutiny and criticism.

Oher's agent, J. Gerard Stranch IV, supported his claims, stating that Oher's relationship with the Tuohy family declined when he realised he was portrayed as unintelligent in the movie. Stranch also mentioned that Oher's trust in the family was fractured when he discovered he was the only member of the family not receiving royalty checks from the film.

Oher's criticism of the film is not new. Even before the lawsuit, he had expressed his dislike for the movie and its impact on his career. He felt that the film took away from his football skills and that he was being judged and downgraded because of something off the field.

Oher is seeking to terminate the conservatorship and prevent the Tuohys from using his name and likeness

In August 2023, Michael Oher sued Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, seeking to terminate their conservatorship over him and prevent them from using his name and likeness. Oher claimed that the Tuohys tricked him into signing a conservatorship agreement when he was 18 years old, which authorized them to make business deals and manage his funds. He alleged that they misled him into believing that the documents were for adoption, which would have made him a permanent legal member of their family. Instead, the conservatorship stripped him of certain legal rights, including the right to make contracts for himself.

Oher's petition revealed that the Tuohys used their power to negotiate a deal with 20th Century Fox and acquire royalties from "The Blind Side," a film based on his life story. He contended that his signature was obtained without a proper explanation of its implications, surrendering his rights to control how his name, likeness, voice, appearance, personality, and life story were used. Oher sought to terminate the conservatorship and bar the Tuohy family from exploiting his name and likeness in the future.

The case sparked public interest as it contradicted the feel-good story portrayed in "The Blind Side," highlighting the potential pitfalls of selling the rights to one's life story. Oher's lawsuit also brought attention to the complexities of adapting books into movies, especially when they involve real people's lives. The dispute centred on Oher's claim that the Tuohys exploited his story and image for profit, repeatedly misrepresenting that they had adopted him.

A Tennessee judge ended the conservatorship in September 2023, finding it unusual for such an agreement to be put in place over a non-disabled person. The judge ordered the Tuohys to provide an accounting of the funds earned from Oher's name and likeness, as the case continued to unfold.

Frequently asked questions