Former NFL left tackle and Super Bowl champion, Michael Oher has petitioned a court in Tennessee, alleging that the Tuohy family never adopted him.
He further stated that the Tuohy family had then obtained a conservatorship that authorized them to profit, at his cost.
The 18-page petition states that both Sean Tuohy and Leigh Anne Tuohy deceived Oher in order to sign a document, which allowed them to make business deals on his behalf.
The petition further states that the Tuohy’s used that authority as conservators to make a deal which benefited them and their birth children. Oher claims that all the riches from the movie rights went to the Tuohy’s and that he got nothing from that deal.
Throughout the years, the Tuohy family has claimed that Oher is their adopted son, and have used that authority to promote Leigh Anne Tuohy’s work as a motivational speaker and an author.
The legal filing said, “The lie of Michael’s adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher,”
“Michael Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys.”
Oher’s attorney, J. Gerard Stranch IV said, “Mike’s relationship with the Tuohy family started to decline when he discovered that he was portrayed in the movie as unintelligent,”
“Their relationship continued to deteriorate as he learned that he was the only member of the family not receiving royalty checks from the movie, and it was permanently fractured when he realized he was never adopted and was not a part of the family.”
The petition seeks that Oher must be given his full share of profits along with punitive and unspecified compensatory damages.
The petition stated, “Since at least August of 2004, Conservators have allowed Michael, specifically, and the public, generally, to believe that Conservators adopted Michael and have used that untruth to gain financial advantages for themselves and the foundations which they own or which they exercise control,” the petition says. “
All monies made in said manner should in all conscience and equity be disgorged and paid over to the said ward, Michael Oher.”
Oher started his NFL career with Baltimore Ravens. He then went to join the Tennessee Titans and then went to Carolina Panthers. He was a Super Bowl Champion and has received many accolades in his incredible career.
