A Tennessee judge has made the decision to terminate the conservatorship of Michael Oher, a retired NFL player known for his compelling life story that was depicted in the movie “The Blind Side.” The conservatorship had been overseen by the Memphis couple, the Tuohys, who were at the center of the film and have allegedly taken financial advantage of Oher.
Shelby County Probate Court Judge Kathleen Gomes ruled on Friday to end the agreement that was established in 2004 when Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy allegedly deceived Oher into signing documents that appointed them as his conservators, rather than his adoptive parents. Under this conservatorship, Oher had been deprived of his rights to his name, image, and likeness, as well as millions of dollars that the family received in exchange for signing away the rights to the book that the film was based on, according to Oher’s claims.
One aspect of the agreement involved a deal with 20th Century Studios, where the Tuohys and their two children received $225,000 and 2.5 percent of all future net proceeds from the movie, which has grossed over $300 million. Oher stated that he did not receive any of these proceeds. It is worth noting that this agreement was already in place when Alcon Entertainment, the company that fully financed the movie, acquired the rights. Oher’s legal team has asserted that he did not receive any compensation from the film and is seeking a full accounting of all records and breaches of fiduciary duty.
In response to these allegations, the Tuohys have accused Oher of fabricating the accusations with the intention of extorting $15 million from them and generating attention for his latest book tour. They claim that they willingly shared the proceeds from the movie with Oher, who refused the payments, potentially as a prelude to a lawsuit.
Conservatorships are typically established for individuals with disabilities who are unable to manage their own finances. In Oher’s case, the Tennessee judge granted the Tuohys’ petition to be appointed as Oher’s conservators in 2004, citing the athlete’s need for supervision, protection, and assistance. This conservatorship would remain in place until the court decided to terminate it.
Oher was one of the most highly regarded football prospects in the country when the Tuohys, a family he occasionally stayed with, offered him the opportunity to live with them full-time during his senior year of high school. Shortly after moving in, he was presented with legal papers that he believed were for initiating the adoption process. However, they turned out to be documents that granted the family “total control” over his ability to negotiate contracts, even though Oher did not have any physical or psychological disabilities.
Under the conservatorship, Oher lost the ability to handle his own financial and legal affairs, rights that he would have retained if he had been formally adopted. He claimed that he was deprived of his rights to his name, image, and likeness due to a deal the family made with 20th Century Studios, which granted the studio exclusive and perpetual rights to his personal experiences and brand without providing adequate compensation. Oher’s legal team also suggested that the signature on the document may have been forged, noting that the Tuohys failed to disclose certain information as required by the court.
According to Oher’s court filing, the Tuohys never informed him that they would have ultimate control over all his contracts, and as a result, he did not understand that the conservatorship would result in him relinquishing his right to contract for himself. The filing argues that the decision to call the legal action an adoption was false; it was, for all intents and purposes, a conservatorship.
In conclusion, Judge Kathleen Gomes has terminated the conservatorship of Michael Oher, highlighting the alleged financial exploitation he experienced at the hands of the Tuohys. Oher is now seeking accountability and a full accounting of all records related to his case. The legal battle between Oher and the Tuohys continues as they exchange accusations and attempt to determine the appropriate course of action regarding the financial proceeds from “The Blind Side.”
