Michael Oher, the former Ole Miss star and subject of the hit movie The Blind Side, has filed a lawsuit claiming that he was never legally adopted by the Tuohy family, who are portrayed as his adoptive parents in the film. Oher filed a petition on Monday in Shelby County Court, alleging that the conservatorship papers he signed appointing the Tuohys as his conservators were not equivalent to adoption papers. Oher is seeking financial compensation, including sums of money that should have been paid to him during the conservatorship period, as well as compensatory and punitive damages from the Tuohys for profits made from his likeness in the movie.
According to the documents obtained, Oher stated that he was not informed by the Tuohys that they would have ultimate control of all his contracts. It wasn’t until February of this year that Oher discovered that the conservatorship did not legally make him a member of the Tuohy family. The suit claims that Oher was falsely advised by the Tuohys that the legal action taken to establish his relationship with them had to be called a conservatorship due to his age.
In a conservatorship, a conservator is appointed to manage the affairs of a person who is unable to do so themselves. However, Oher claims that he was under the impression that he was legally adopted by the Tuohy family, which would give them the rights and obligations of parents. The conservatorship papers stated that Oher shall not be allowed to enter into any contracts or bind himself without the direct approval of his conservators.
The Tuohys were appointed as Oher’s conservators in 2004 when he turned 18. Sean A. Tuohy, in an interview, explained that the NCAA required Oher to be a part of the family for him to attend Ole Miss, which led to the conservatorship arrangement. He also mentioned that the family sought legal advice, which informed them that they couldn’t adopt Oher since he was over the age of 18.
Oher’s petition also claims that the Tuohys negotiated a contract price of $225,000 and 2.5% of all future revenue for the movie The Blind Side. The petition alleges that the movie made over $330 million in gross revenue. Sean Tuohy denied making money from the movie, stating that they only received half of author Michael Lewis’s share, which amounted to around $14,000 for each family member.
As a football player, Oher had a successful career, attending Briarcrest Christian in Memphis before playing for the Ole Miss Rebels. He received offers from numerous top college football programs and was recognized as one of the nation’s most sought-after offensive tackles. Oher started 47 games in a row for Ole Miss and was twice named an All-American.
The news of Oher’s lawsuit has garnered attention, shining a light on the legal and personal complexities of his relationship with the Tuohy family. It remains to be seen how the court will rule on Oher’s claims, but this case serves as a reminder that what we see on the big screen may not always reflect the complete reality behind the scenes.
