Tuohys dispute Oher’s claims, allege ‘shakedown’

• Michael A. Fletcher, ESPNAug 15, 2023, 07:43 PM ET Close Michael Fletcher is a senior writer with ESPN’s business and investigative group. Prior to that, he wrote for ESPN’s The Undefeated, concentrating on politics, criminal justice and social issues. He invested 21 years at The Washington Post, where his beats consisted of the national economy, the White House and race relations.The Tennessee household

implicated by retired NFL star Michael Oher of deceiving him into a conservatorship and claiming all the profits from a smash hit film about his life responded to the accusations Tuesday by claiming that Oher threatened to go public with his story if they did not pay him$15 million.Attorney Martin Singer provided a declaration on the Tuohys ‘behalf that called Oher’s

claims”over-the-top”and said”the concept that the family ever looked for to profit off Mr. Oher is not just offending, it is transparently ridiculous.””In truth, the Tuohys opened their home to Mr. Oher, provided him structure, support and,

many of all, genuine love,”Vocalist’s declaration said.”They have actually consistently treated him like a kid and among their 3 children. His action was to threaten them, consisting of saying that he would plant a negative story about them in journalism unless they paid him $15 million. “Oher’s lawyer, J. Gerard Stranch IV, decreased to comment when reached by ESPN on Tuesday.Editor’s Picks The story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy and their efforts to assist raise Oher out of poverty to the NFL was commemorated in the 2009 motion picture “The Blind Side.” On Monday, Oher petitioned a Tennessee probate court with claims that a main aspect of the story– that the Tuohys had actually embraced him– was a lie created by the household to enrich itself. Instead, less than 3 months after Oher turned 18 in 2004, the petition states, the couple tricked him into signing a file making them his conservators, which gave them legal authority to make organization offers in his name.The petition even more alleges that the Tuohys used their power as conservators to strike a deal that paid them and their 2 birth children countless dollars in royalties from an Oscar-winning film that earned more than $300 million, while Oher got absolutely nothing for a story” that would not have actually existed without him.”According to the legal filing, the film paid the Tuohys each$225,000, plus 2.5% of the film’s “specified net profits.”In the years because, the Tuohys have continued calling the 37-year-old Oher their adopted boy and have utilized that assertion to promote their foundation as well as Leigh Anne Tuohy’s work as an author and inspirational speaker.In his declaration, Singer stated representatives for Michael Lewis

, author of the successful book that ended up being “The Blind Side, “worked out a handle which the Tuohy family “got a little advance from the production company and a tiny portion of net earnings.””They insisted that any cash got be divided equally. And they have made great on that pledge, “the declaration stated. “The evidence– documented in earnings involvement checks and studio accounting statements– is clear: for many years, the Tuohys have actually provided Mr. Oher an equal cut of every cent gotten from ‘The Blind Side. ‘Even just recently, when Mr. Oher started to threaten them about what he would do unless they paid him an eight-figure windfall, and, as part of that shakedown effort declined to cash the little earnings checks from the Tuohys, they still deposited Mr. Oher’s equal share into a trust account they established for his kid.”Vocalist’s statement said Oher”has actually attempted to run this play numerous times before– but it

seems that many other lawyers stopped representing him once they saw the proof and found out the truth. Regretfully, Mr. Oher has actually finally discovered a willing enabler and submitted this ludicrous suit as a negative attempt to drum up attention in the middle of his most current book trip.”In his court petition, Oher requests a judge to terminate the conservatorship granted to the Tuohys in August 2004 and likewise a complete accounting of the cash the Tuohys made using Oher’s name, and to have the couple pay him his reasonable share of profits, along with unspecified offsetting and punitive damages.Singer stated the household will not oppose the termination of their guardianship but”will not be reluctant to defend their reputations, stand up to this shakedown and defeat this offensive suit.”