Michael Oher accused the Tuohy household of enriching themselves utilizing his life story after tricking him into signing a conservatorship. But Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy say Oher’s accusations are false and nothing however a earlier threat-come-through.
RELATED: Sean Tuohy Reacts After ‘Blind Side’ Movie Subject, Michael Oher, Alleges Tuohys Tricked Him Into Conservatorship
Though they’ve mentioned they’re keen to finish the conservatorship, the couple can also be ensuring to clear their title. Their lawyer, Martin Singer, outlined the Tuohys’ rebuttals in opposition to Michael’s lawsuit in an announcement to Entertainment Tonight.
Beyond feeling “devastated,” as Sean advised The Daily Memphian on Monday (Aug. 14), the Tuohy household alleges the lawsuit is a part of Michael’s earlier shakedown efforts.
“In reality, the Tuohys opened their home to Mr. Oher, offered him structure, support, and, most of all, unconditional love. They have consistently treated him like a son and one of their three children,” Singer advised ET. “His response was to threaten them, including saying that he would plant a negative story about them in the press unless they paid him $15 million.”
Michael Oher Accuses Tuohys Of Solely Profiting From His Story, Family Says Claims Are ‘Absurd’ & ‘Outlandish’
As beforehand reported, Michael Oher filed the 14-page petition in opposition to the Tuohys on Monday (Aug. 14). The authorized submitting says, in February, the previous NFL participant found his conservatorship didn’t “make him a member of the Tuohy family” as he believed it might.
Additionally, Oher claims he obtained “The Blind Side” contracts that allegedly promised 2.5% of outlined web proceeds from the movie and $225,000 for Sean, Leigh Anne, and their two organic youngsters.
Meanwhile, Michael Oher claims he didn’t obtain any cash from the movie. He alleges he signed the conservatorship papers in 2004 at 18, believing it was just like being adopted. At the time, he reportedly didn’t have any “known physical or psychological disabilities,” a standard think about establishing conservatorships.
On Monday, Sean Tuohy advised The Daily Memphian the conservatorship was a means-to-an-end to get Michael Oher into the University of Mississippi with him as a “booster.” He revealed his household, together with his spouse and their two organic youngsters, and Oher made about $14,000 every from the movie. Now, his lawyer Martin Singer is including context to the alleged cash collected.
“Anyone with a modicum of common sense can see that the outlandish claims made by Michael Oher about the Tuohy family are hurtful and absurd. The idea that the Tuohys have ever sought to profit off Mr. Oher is not only offensive, it is transparently ridiculous. Through hard work and good fortune, Sean and Leigh Anne have made an extraordinary amount of money in the restaurant business. The notion that a couple worth hundreds of millions of dollars would connive to withhold a few thousand dollars in profit participation payments from anyone, let alone from someone they loved as a son, defies belief.”
And Martin Singer insists there’s proof that Michael Oher was paid after Michael Lewis acquired a suggestion to show The Blind Side e-book right into a film. Martin claims Michael’s attorneys negotiated an advance and “a tiny percentage of net profits” from the manufacturing firm.
The Tuohys say that Michael is the one who has refused to money the acquired checks. Instead, they declare he’s searching for a a lot larger payout.
“The evidence — documented in profit participation checks and studio accounting statements – is clear: over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal cut of every penny received from “The Blind Side.” Even just lately, when Mr. Oher began to threaten them about what he would do until they paid him an eight-figure windfall, and, as a part of that shakedown effort refused to money the small revenue checks from the Tuohys, they nonetheless deposited Mr. Oher’s equal share right into a belief account they arrange for his son.”