Former NFL Player Michael Oher Wins Court Case Against Foster Family
Former NFL player Michael Oher, who was famously portrayed in the hit film “The Blind Side,” has achieved a favorable outcome in his legal battle against his foster family.
On Friday, Judge Kathleen Gomes of Shelby County, Tennessee, Probate Court terminated the conservatorship agreement that Oher had signed in 2004 with Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, according to The Associated Press.
Oher had agreed to the conservatorship when he was 18 years old after the Tuohys took him in as a homeless high schooler. Now at the age of 37, he has successfully challenged the validity of the agreement.
Judge Shocked by Agreement
Judge Gomes expressed her surprise that the conservatorship agreement was ever approved in the first place.
In Tennessee, conservatorships are typically only granted if the individual is disabled or deemed unfit to make decisions, as reported by the AP.
Oher’s petition to terminate the conservatorship stated that it was approved “despite the fact that he was over 18 years old and had no diagnosed physical or psychological disabilities.”
Both sides of the dispute, including the lawyers, agreed that the conservatorship should be ended, according to the AP.
Oher is now seeking a full accounting of the profits made by the Tuohys from “The Blind Side” and any money owed to him, along with interest.
Accusations and Counterclaims
Oher has accused the Tuohys of keeping profits that rightfully belonged to him and of falsely claiming to have legally adopted him. He claims that he only recently discovered the true nature of his legal relationship with the family, despite his own book acknowledging that they were his conservators, not his adoptive parents.
On the other hand, the Tuohys have accused Oher of attempting to extort money from them. They assert that they treated him as one of their own children and deny any intention to profit from his story.
Martin Singer, the attorney representing the Tuohys, dismissed Oher’s allegations as “outlandish” and claimed that Oher had threatened to tarnish their reputation unless they paid him $15 million.
The Tuohys admit to referring to Oher as their son but argue that it was meant in a colloquial sense and not as a legal designation. They maintain that they became his conservators to ensure his eligibility to play football at the University of Mississippi.
Oher, who was drafted 23rd overall in the 2009 NFL draft and played for the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, and Carolina Panthers, seeks resolution in this ongoing legal battle.
The post ‘The Blind Side’ Subject Michael Oher Gets Ruling from Judge on Conservatorship with Foster Parents appeared first on The Western Journal.
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