Former NFL player Michael Oher, who gained fame as the inspiration for the movie “The Blind Side,” has filed a petition in a Tennessee probate court accusing Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy of deceiving him nearly two decades ago. Oher alleges that the Tuohys lied to him by having him sign papers that made them his conservators instead of his adoptive parents. In the petition, Oher seeks the termination of the conservatorship, a full accounting of the money earned from his name and story, and payment of what he is due with interest.
According to the petition, Oher discovered the truth in February 2023, realizing that the conservatorship did not establish a familial relationship with the Tuohys, as he had believed. Oher also asks for the Tuohys to be sanctioned and required to pay compensatory and punitive damages, to be determined by the court. The Tuohys’ attorney, Steve Farese, stated that they will respond to the allegations in court but declined to comment further.
The conservatorship was reportedly established to satisfy NCAA requirements as Oher considered attending the University of Mississippi, the alma mater of Sean Tuohy. Sean Tuohy has expressed his willingness to end the conservatorship if that is what Oher desires.
Oher also claims that the Tuohys did not take legal action to assume custody from the Tennessee Department of Human Services before he turned 18, and the conservatorship paperwork was filed after he reached that age. Oher alleges that he was encouraged to refer to the attorney who filed the paperwork as “Aunt Debbie” Branan and that he was told to sign adoption-related documents shortly after moving in with the Tuohys.
The petition further states that a book based on Oher’s life was released in September 2006, with the author, Michael Lewis, described as a childhood friend of Sean Tuohy’s. Oher alleges that his conservators negotiated movie rights, with a contract titled “Life Story Rights Agreement” allegedly signed by Oher himself in April 2007. However, Oher claims that he never willingly or knowingly signed this document and that he was not informed that he would be signing away his right to contract for himself.
Oher seeks a full accounting of his assets and how they were utilized, considering the substantial financial gain from his life story. He points out that he received no compensation for the rights to his story, which would not have existed without his involvement.
Michael Oher was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens as the 23rd overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played a total of eight seasons in the NFL, including winning a Super Bowl with the Ravens. Oher last played in 2016 and was released by the Carolina Panthers in 2017.
It is worth noting that the recent high-profile conservatorship case involving singer Britney Spears has drawn attention to concerns about the potential harm caused by strict controls in conservatorship arrangements, prompting advocates across the United States to question their efficacy.
