Former OL Oher Blindsided: Suing Tuohy's Claiming They Never Adopted Him

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

On 8/14/2023 at 5:53 PM, mrags said:

Or a pro golfer 

… or a ranch magnate in Montana 

[mrags]

Just now, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

… or a ranch magnate in Montana 

Or trying to capture Al Capone 

[syhuang]

Oher Attempted $15 Million Shakedown

 

---------------------------------------

 

The Tuohy family says before Michael Oher made "outlandish," "hurtful" and "absurd" claims about them in court on Monday ... he actually tried to shake them down for $15 MILLION.

 

...

...

 

Singer -- in a lengthy statement to TMZ Sports -- said Oher came to the Tuohys prior to filing his 14-page petition in Shelby County, Tenn. ... and threatened them, saying if they didn't pony up an eight-figure check, he'd "plant a negative story about them in the press."

 

...

...

 

The conservatorship "was established to assist with Mr. Oher’s needs, ranging from getting him health insurance and obtaining a driver’s license to helping with college admissions," Singer said. "Should Mr. Oher wish to terminate the conservatorship, either now or at anytime in the future, the Tuohys will never oppose it in any way."

 

...

...

 

"Over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal cut of every penny received from 'The Blind Side,'" Singer said. "Even 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 refused to cash the small profit checks from the Tuohys, they still deposited Mr. Oher’s equal share into a trust account they set up for his son."

 

...

...

 

Singer continued, "Unbeknownst to the public, Mr. Oher has actually attempted to run this play several times before – but it seems that numerous other lawyers stopped representing him once they saw the evidence and learned the truth. Sadly, Mr. Oher has finally found a willing enabler and filed this ludicrous lawsuit as a cynical attempt to drum up attention in the middle of his latest book tour."

 

---------------------------------------

 

Tuohys dispute Michael Oher claims, allege 'shakedown effort'

 

---------------------------------------

In his statement, Singer said agents for Michael Lewis, author of the bestselling book that became "The Blind Side," negotiated a deal in which the Tuohy family "received a small advance from the production company and a tiny percentage of net profits."

"They insisted that any money received be divided equally. And they have made good on that pledge," the statement said. "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 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 refused to cash the small profit checks from the Tuohys, they still deposited Mr. Oher's equal share into a trust account they set up for his son."

 

---------------------------------------

Edited August 16, 2023 by syhuang

[BillsShredder83]

5 minutes ago, syhuang said:

Oher Attempted $15 Million Shakedown

 

---------------------------------------

 

The Tuohy family says before Michael Oher made "outlandish," "hurtful" and "absurd" claims about them in court on Monday ... he actually tried to shake them down for $15 MILLION.

 

...

...

 

Singer -- in a lengthy statement to TMZ Sports -- said Oher came to the Tuohys prior to filing his 14-page petition in Shelby County, Tenn. ... and threatened them, saying if they didn't pony up an eight-figure check, he'd "plant a negative story about them in the press."

 

...

...

 

The conservatorship "was established to assist with Mr. Oher’s needs, ranging from getting him health insurance and obtaining a driver’s license to helping with college admissions," Singer said. "Should Mr. Oher wish to terminate the conservatorship, either now or at anytime in the future, the Tuohys will never oppose it in any way."

 

...

...

 

"Over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal cut of every penny received from 'The Blind Side,'" Singer said. "Even 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 refused to cash the small profit checks from the Tuohys, they still deposited Mr. Oher’s equal share into a trust account they set up for his son."

 

...

...

 

Singer continued, "Unbeknownst to the public, Mr. Oher has actually attempted to run this play several times before – but it seems that numerous other lawyers stopped representing him once they saw the evidence and learned the truth. Sadly, Mr. Oher has finally found a willing enabler and filed this ludicrous lawsuit as a cynical attempt to drum up attention in the middle of his latest book tour."

 

---------------------------------------

Honestly I feel bad for the dude. Sounds like someone tried to convince him there was a lot of money there, and there isn't.

 

Any lawyer worth his salt doesn't put out this much info, unless it's all true. They're even going to look at the dates for the trust.

 

If the acct is freshly opened and a lump sum dropped in there, he'd be setting the family up to get roasted in the media, which is likely a bigger concern then the $$

 

As far as the conservatorship, doesn't sound like the family ever controlled his NFL $$. He bought a $1.4m house in 2014, and Ohers lawyer woulda blasted them If they were keeping his money from him or taking anything.

 

So conservatorship sounds like it's in name only. It absolutely makes sense that keeping this title in place was an emotional sentiment. His tie into the family as being one of them. Why go through a legal divorce of sorts if that's the case?

 

If he'd wanted out he could've asked or we woulda heard news that he was fighting his way out of it, a la Spears. This whole thing sucks for all parties. Would be shocked of anything malicious comes out, at all, more than happy to admit it here of it does.  

[hondo in seattle]

1 hour ago, syhuang said:

Oher Attempted $15 Million Shakedown

 

---------------------------------------

 

The Tuohy family says before Michael Oher made "outlandish," "hurtful" and "absurd" claims about them in court on Monday ... he actually tried to shake them down for $15 MILLION.

 

...

...

 

Singer -- in a lengthy statement to TMZ Sports -- said Oher came to the Tuohys prior to filing his 14-page petition in Shelby County, Tenn. ... and threatened them, saying if they didn't pony up an eight-figure check, he'd "plant a negative story about them in the press."

 

...

...

 

The conservatorship "was established to assist with Mr. Oher’s needs, ranging from getting him health insurance and obtaining a driver’s license to helping with college admissions," Singer said. "Should Mr. Oher wish to terminate the conservatorship, either now or at anytime in the future, the Tuohys will never oppose it in any way."

 

...

...

 

"Over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal cut of every penny received from 'The Blind Side,'" Singer said. "Even 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 refused to cash the small profit checks from the Tuohys, they still deposited Mr. Oher’s equal share into a trust account they set up for his son."

 

...

...

 

Singer continued, "Unbeknownst to the public, Mr. Oher has actually attempted to run this play several times before – but it seems that numerous other lawyers stopped representing him once they saw the evidence and learned the truth. Sadly, Mr. Oher has finally found a willing enabler and filed this ludicrous lawsuit as a cynical attempt to drum up attention in the middle of his latest book tour."

 

---------------------------------------

 

Tuohys dispute Michael Oher claims, allege 'shakedown effort'

 

---------------------------------------

In his statement, Singer said agents for Michael Lewis, author of the bestselling book that became "The Blind Side," negotiated a deal in which the Tuohy family "received a small advance from the production company and a tiny percentage of net profits."

"They insisted that any money received be divided equally. And they have made good on that pledge," the statement said. "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 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 refused to cash the small profit checks from the Tuohys, they still deposited Mr. Oher's equal share into a trust account they set up for his son."

 

---------------------------------------

 

The story keeps getting sadder and sadder.  

[aristocrat]

1 hour ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Honestly I feel bad for the dude. Sounds like someone tried to convince him there was a lot of money there, and there isn't.

 

Any lawyer worth his salt doesn't put out this much info, unless it's all true. They're even going to look at the dates for the trust.

 

If the acct is freshly opened and a lump sum dropped in there, he'd be setting the family up to get roasted in the media, which is likely a bigger concern then the $$

 

As far as the conservatorship, doesn't sound like the family ever controlled his NFL $$. He bought a $1.4m house in 2014, and Ohers lawyer woulda blasted them If they were keeping his money from him or taking anything.

 

So conservatorship sounds like it's in name only. It absolutely makes sense that keeping this title in place was an emotional sentiment. His tie into the family as being one of them. Why go through a legal divorce of sorts if that's the case?

 

If he'd wanted out he could've asked or we woulda heard news that he was fighting his way out of it, a la Spears. This whole thing sucks for all parties. Would be shocked of anything malicious comes out, at all, more than happy to admit it here of it does.  

it’s starting to look like he’s blown his nfl money and is pulling this ***** to get some cash. 

[Beck Water]

7 hours ago, BillsfaninSB said:

 

Exactly!   It wouldn’t matter if I was homeless or had 10 homes.  I wouldn’t just giveaway the rights of my story for pennies just so a large movie studio and actors can get even richer.   It doesn’t add up.

 

I’m not knowledgeable on how much authors get for movie rights but $120K seems very low for major productions. 

 

 

Well, I'm with you in not being knowledgeable about movie rights, but I think maybe when there's a book based on a true story and then someone wants to base a movie on it, and the book already has some kind of signed releases from the people involved, the studio only has to pay for the rights to the book, and not pay the people to use their story.

 

But like I said, this isn't my lane.  We got all kinds of people who know stuff on this site so maybe someone will educate us.

 

However, I did enquire of my friend Mr Google and found this:

https://beverlyboy.com/filmmaking/how-much-do-book-authors-receive-for-film-rights/
 

Quote

Generally speaking, the price that a production company will be willing to pay you for your book to film adaptation rights is about 2-3 percent of the production budget.

So, say the production company has a budget of $10M to produce your book adaptation. That’s considering you have an incredibly popular book like a NY Times Bestseller. Then you’ll be offered 2-3% or $200,000 on the first day of principle photography.

However, most of the time the agreement will also consider a cap. Perhaps the budget is $10M but the cap for rights to the book is set to $225,000.

That means, even if the film budget increases, to say $100M? You’re still only going to get $225,000 for the rights, which is still a rather substantial amount of money.

 

I found that the production budget was $29M, so if that article is correct and the book author gets 2%, that would be $580,000 (though it mentions there being a cap sometimes, ie if the original budget was $10M, the payout might cap at $200k).

 

So let's say that the Tuohys are correct that the author of the book gave them half of what he was paid, and they divided it equally so everyone got $14,000 as Sean Tuohy has said.  That would be the Tuohys, their 2 kids, and Oher so 6 x $14,000 or $70,000; that would mean the author of the book was paid $140,000.

 

Which seems low, but not orders of magnitude low - and maybe the $140k was after a 15% agent fee and taxes?

 

2 hours ago, syhuang said:

In his statement, Singer said agents for Michael Lewis, author of the bestselling book that became "The Blind Side," negotiated a deal in which the Tuohy family "received a small advance from the production company and a tiny percentage of net profits."

"They insisted that any money received be divided equally. And they have made good on that pledge," the statement said. "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 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 refused to cash the small profit checks from the Tuohys, they still deposited Mr. Oher's equal share into a trust account they set up for his son."

 

---------------------------------------

 

This pretty much tracks with the above if Lewis sold the movie rights to his book for a smaller original sum and then a percentage of the net profits.

 

The part about the "trust account they set up for his son" is a little odd because apparently Oher has 4 children, 2 of them sons.  But maybe it was set up after the first son was born but before the others.

Edited August 16, 2023 by Beck Water

[Beck Water]

1 hour ago, aristocrat said:

it’s starting to look like he’s blown his nfl money and is pulling this ***** to get some cash. 

 

That would be sad.  Spotrac estimates that Oher made $34M in his 9 season career.

 

But people have run through bigger sums of money if they develop an addiction to drugs or gambling or trust the wrong investment advisor or simply spend like they have no limits.

[BuffaloRebound]

Seems like a regular family squabble and something nobody would care about if not for the popularity of the book and movie.  

[Joe Ferguson forever]

6 hours ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Id be feeling silly right about now if i was calling these people scum and "white saviors".  Dislike that term anyways, its a lose lose assumption.  So rich people have a chance to help a kid in a bad situation out, and don't, what do we call that? If they do step in, take a kid off the streets, theyre "white saviors".  Thats a really crappy label to throw around for any reason at all.

 

Even if it turns out these people took advantage of him, that label doesnt make sense when theres things like "fraudsters" and "con-artists" out there.  What good is coming from using that crappy label?  A white person should give pause before helping out someone different looking from them?  People should only adopt same race kids? What a nasty, fabricated label that is to hand out

huh?

[mannc]

12 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

Well, I'm with you in not being knowledgeable about movie rights, but I think maybe when there's a book based on a true story and then someone wants to base a movie on it, and the book already has some kind of signed releases from the people involved, the studio only has to pay for the rights to the book, and not pay the people to use their story.

 

But like I said, this isn't my lane.  We got all kinds of people who know stuff on this site so maybe someone will educate us.

 

However, I did enquire of my friend Mr Google and found this:

https://beverlyboy.com/filmmaking/how-much-do-book-authors-receive-for-film-rights/
 

 

I found that the production budget was $29M, so if that article is correct and the book author gets 2%, that would be $580,000 (though it mentions there being a cap sometimes, ie if the original budget was $10M, the payout might cap at $200k).

 

So let's say that the Tuohys are correct that the author of the book gave them half of what he was paid, and they divided it equally so everyone got $14,000 as Sean Tuohy has said.  That would be the Tuohys, their 2 kids, and Oher so 6 x $14,000 or $70,000; that would mean the author of the book was paid $140,000.

 

Which seems low, but not orders of magnitude low - and maybe the $140k was after a 15% agent fee and taxes?

 

 

This pretty much tracks with the above if Lewis sold the movie rights to his book for a smaller original sum and then a percentage of the net profits.

 

The part about the "trust account they set up for his son" is a little odd because apparently Oher has 4 children, 2 of them sons.  But maybe it was set up after the first son was born but before the others.

One thing is for sure: In a civil lawsuit like this, it's very easy to obtain records showing exactly how much everyone made from the movie rights and where that money went.  If, as has been reported, the movie grossed more than $300 million, then the numbers involved are probably much higher than you've indicated above. 

 

One last point: the notion that Oher tried to "shake them down" for eight figures before the lawsuit was filed is silly.  It's standard practice before filing a lawsuit like this to make a pre-litigation demand.  It's not extortion, or even immoral. 

[PatsFanNH]

38 minutes ago, mannc said:

One thing is for sure: In a civil lawsuit like this, it's very easy to obtain records showing exactly how much everyone made from the movie rights and where that money went.  If, as has been reported, the movie grossed more than $300 million, then the numbers involved are probably much higher than you've indicated above. 

 

One last point: the notion that Oher tried to "shake them down" for eight figures before the lawsuit was filed is silly.  It's standard practice before filing a lawsuit like this to make a pre-litigation demand.  It's not extortion, or even immoral. 

That depends HOW he demanded it. If it was threw an attorney your right, but by the way this was written he was trying to blackmail them to pay by threatening to hurt their reputation. 

[mannc]

Just now, PatsFanNH said:

That depends HOW he demanded it. If it was threw an attorney your right, but by the way this was written he was trying to blackmail them to pay by threatening to hurt their reputation. 

Have you seen the communication?

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

1 hour ago, mannc said:

One thing is for sure: In a civil lawsuit like this, it's very easy to obtain records showing exactly how much everyone made from the movie rights and where that money went.  If, as has been reported, the movie grossed more than $300 million, then the numbers involved are probably much higher than you've indicated above. 

 

One last point: the notion that Oher tried to "shake them down" for eight figures before the lawsuit was filed is silly.  It's standard practice before filing a lawsuit like this to make a pre-litigation demand.  It's not extortion, or even immoral. 

 

How much the movie made is typically irrelevant to a writer who sold a story.  Usually its just a percentage of the budget or a capped number.  If they get a writing credit they might be able to negotiate some percentage of it.  He likely paid them to use their story in his book, and a percentage of proceeds from the book and any movie rights deal was a part of that contract.

 

Residuals likely wouldn't apply since... Michael Lewis didn't write the script or have any involvement in production of the film.  He was paid for the story he wrote, and some of that money might have trickled down to the family (sounds like it did, and it sounds like Oher probably has it).  Oher doesn't get all of that money either, since while it is his story - its their story as well.  It's possible they negotiated that into some original contract with Lewis, but I doubt theres a huge bucket of movie money sitting around.  Usually the movie money goes to the people in the movie, who wrote it, produced it, made it, and obviously the production company, distribution who bought it, etc.  

 

If it was "pay me 15 million or ill drag you through the media" it would still come across to me as a threat - legal or otherwise. I thought their response was pretty fair though.  I think they're more likely getting royalty checks from the book than the movie though.  

Edited August 16, 2023 by Bleeding Bills Blue

[HOUSE]

The facts of this adventure are becoming fuzzier by the minute

Sounds more like a publicly stunt to sell a freaking book or make yet another movie.

Stay tuned The Reverand Allen Sharpton should be on the scene soon

Edited August 16, 2023 by HOUSE

[Patrick Duffy]

On 8/14/2023 at 1:51 PM, essential said:

 

 

Did either of you read it?  Basically, when he signed the "conservatorship" papers he thought he was signing "adoption" papers.  Also, he only found out about this in Feb 2023, so he didn't wait till now, he learned about it a few months ago. 

 

Didn't read through entire thread just yet so sorry if it's been addressed already, but question regarding the "conservatorship"......If it was a true conservatorship, wouldn't that mean they would have had some sort of control, involvement etc in the NFL contract that was signed with Ravens as a rookie? I'm not exactly sure so could be mistaken....

 

But if not, in that case I don't see how he learned about it recently. He would have known then at that point right? Correct me if I'm wrong here.....

Edited August 16, 2023 by Patrick Duffy

[MJS]

A lot of this info, or info like it, came out years ago when Oher originally made his discontentment with the movie known. That's why I said this case is bologna. Oher is getting used by sketchy lawyers. This all stems from him thinking he should have gotten more money from the movie than he did, and thinking, wrongly, that the family got a huge payout from the movie and kept it from him. He is just wrong and lawyers are happy to profit off of it.

6 minutes ago, Patrick Duffy said:

 

Didn't read through entire thread just yet so sorry if it's been addressed already, but question regarding the "conservatorship"......If it was a true conservatorship, wouldn't that mean they would have had some sort of control, involvement etc in the NFL contract that was signed with Ravens as a rookie? I'm not exactly sure so could be mistaken....

 

But if not, in that case I don't see how he learned about it recently. He would have known then at that point right? Correct me if I'm wrong here.....

I'm sure it was all explained to him at the time he signed it, but he likely did not fully understand, because it was all over his head and he is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

[PatsFanNH]

2 hours ago, mannc said:

Have you seen the communication?

I said based on how THIS was written. I didn’t say you were wrong I was just stating based off of what we read it appears be straight up blackmail. 

[Patrick Duffy]

4 minutes ago, MJS said:

I'm sure it was all explained to him at the time he signed it, but he likely did not fully understand, because it was all over his head and he is not the sharpest tool in the shed

 

Well, I'll say it's possible, but you'd think at age 23 drafted into the NFL and all those involved in details/signing of his contract..... I don't see how 

[MJS]

38 minutes ago, Patrick Duffy said:

Well, I'll say it's possible, but you'd think at age 23 drafted into the NFL and all those involved in details/signing of his contract..... I don't see how 

He probably just let his agent do everything. Many NFL players just focus on football and sign the papers their agents tell them to sign.

[Patrick Duffy]

1 hour ago, MJS said:

He probably just let his agent do everything. Many NFL players just focus on football and sign the papers their agents tell them to sign.

 

I don't know, but even so the man/lady has to be there in a true conservatorship and considering such a huge, life changing moment for himself and them I highly doubt that in such dream come true event that is monumental in ways changing everything. That moment becomes reality with his rookie contract signing. Don't see how in such an event Oher or anyone else would just "let the agent do everything" and not be involved.

 

I understand what you're saying that may explain it, but I assume you would mostly agree  how very unlikely those 2 are.

 

All I mean is it's kinda strange 

Edited August 16, 2023 by Patrick Duffy

[MJS]

1 hour ago, Patrick Duffy said:

 

I don't know, but even so the man/lady has to be there in a true conservatorship and considering such a huge, life changing moment for himself and them I highly doubt that in such dream come true event that is monumental in ways changing everything. That moment becomes reality with his rookie contract signing. Don't see how in such an event Oher or anyone else would just "let the agent do everything" and not be involved.

 

I understand what you're saying that may explain it, but I assume you would mostly agree  how very unlikely those 2 are.

 

All I mean is it's kinda strange 

The conservatorship and his rookie contract are two different things. He could have understood one and not the other.

Edited August 16, 2023 by MJS

[SoTier]

3 hours ago, Patrick Duffy said:

 

Didn't read through entire thread just yet so sorry if it's been addressed already, but question regarding the "conservatorship"......If it was a true conservatorship, wouldn't that mean they would have had some sort of control, involvement etc in the NFL contract that was signed with Ravens as a rookie? I'm not exactly sure so could be mistaken....

 

But if not, in that case I don't see how he learned about it recently. He would have known then at that point right? Correct me if I'm wrong here.....

 

According to the court filing, Oher's new lawyer discovered the conservatorship in February, 2023.  My guess is that the Touheys didn't exercise as much control over Oher as they could have, so he didn't question anything until after he retired.

 

Oher's agent when he signed his first NFL contract (and maybe his subsequent contract(s)) was described in one of the articles quoted upthread as a close personal friend of the Touheys.  This same lawyer set up the conservatorship, which was set up when Oher was just 18.   Oher claims in court papers that he thought he was being adopted by the Touheys when he signed the conservatorship agreement, and the Touheys have represented the legal proceeding as adoption for years.  Sean Touhey has also claimed that they couldn't adopt Oher because he was over 18, so they had to do the conservatorship, but Tennessee allows adult adoption so that statement by Touhey is untrue.

 

50 minutes ago, Patrick Duffy said:

 

I don't know, but even so the man/lady has to be there in a true conservatorship and considering such a huge, life changing moment for himself and them I highly doubt that in such dream come true event that Oher or anyone else would just "let the agent do everything" and not be involved.

 

I understand what you're saying that may explain it, but I assume you would mostly agree  how very unlikely those 2 are.

 

All I mean is it's kinda strange 

 

I think that Oher trusted the Touheys and his agent (the Touheys' friend) to take care of his interests because he thought he was truly part of their family so he never questioned much.   I think that he feels betrayed and exploited by the Touheys, and that's what has prompted the lawsuit. 

 

[syhuang]

I find below interesting. In Michael Oher's own book "I Beat the Odds" in 2011 (note: not Michael Lewis' famous book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game" in 2006, which the movie bases on), it has mentioned Sean and Leigh Anne would be named as my "legal conservators" in page 168.

 

Oher's book was published in 2011 so it doesn't look like the whole adoption and conservatorship thing is something Oher just found out recently.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------

FAQ: Sorting out the biggest claims in 'Blind Side' controversy

 

On Page 168 of his 2011 bestseller, "I Beat the Odds," Oher describes the legal process of joining the Tuohy family in the summer after he graduated high school:

 

Leigh Anne and Sean had already assumed responsibility for me as guardians, which allowed them to sign my school permission slips and take me to medical appointments. This last step was the one that would make everything binding.

 

It kind of felt like a formality, as I'd been a part of the family for more than a year at that point. Since I was already over the age of eighteen and considered an adult by the state of Tennessee, Sean and Leigh Anne would be named as my "legal conservators." They explained to me that it means pretty much the exact same thing as "adoptive parents," but that the laws were just written in a way that took my age into account. Honestly, I didn't care what it was called. I was just happy that no one could argue that we weren't legally what we already knew was real: We were a family.

 

--------------------------------------------------------

Edited August 16, 2023 by syhuang

[SoTier]

1 minute ago, syhuang said:

I find below interesting. In Michael Other's own book "I Beat the Odds" in 2011 (note: not Michael Lewis' famous book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game" in 2006, which the movie bases on), it has mentioned Sean and Leigh Anne would be named as my "legal conservators" in page 168.

 

Oher's book was published in 2011 so it doesn't look like the whole adoption and conservatorship thing is something Oher just found out recently.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------

FAQ: Sorting out the biggest claims in 'Blind Side' controversy

 

On Page 168 of his 2011 bestseller, "I Beat the Odds," Oher describes the legal process of joining the Tuohy family in the summer after he graduated high school:

 

Leigh Anne and Sean had already assumed responsibility for me as guardians, which allowed them to sign my school permission slips and take me to medical appointments. This last step was the one that would make everything binding.

 

It kind of felt like a formality, as I'd been a part of the family for more than a year at that point. Since I was already over the age of eighteen and considered an adult by the state of Tennessee, Sean and Leigh Anne would be named as my "legal conservators." They explained to me that it means pretty much the exact same thing as "adoptive parents," but that the laws were just written in a way that took my age into account. Honestly, I didn't care what it was called. I was just happy that no one could argue that we weren't legally what we already knew was real: We were a family.

 

--------------------------------------------------------

 

The Touheys lied to Oher because a conservatorship is not an adoption.  The law in Tennessee allows for adult adoptions.  They chose to use a conservatorship rather than a simple adult adoption. 

[syhuang]

1 minute ago, SoTier said:

 

The Touheys lied to Oher because a conservatorship is not an adoption.  The law in Tennessee allows for adult adoptions.  They chose to use a conservatorship rather than a simple adult adoption. 

 

Could be, but it looks like Oher was already aware of the conservatorship as early as 2011 based on his book published that year.

[unbillievable]

11 minutes ago, syhuang said:

 

Could be, but it looks like Oher was already aware of the conservatorship as early as 2011 based on his book published that year.

 

He knew about it, but says that he believed it was the same as adoption.

 

The only thing an adoption grants an adult are heredity rights on the family's estate. Oher wants some of that $200mil Tuoy money!

[syhuang]

16 minutes ago, unbillievable said:

 

He knew about it, but says that he believed it was the same as adoption.

 

The only thing an adoption grants an adult are heredity rights on the family's estate. Oher wants some of that $200mil Tuoy money!

I see. By the following article, it seems like he knew the difference few years ago. I guess more detail will come out during the lawsuit  including their group text messages, profit participation checks, studio accounting statements, etc.

 

-------------------------------------------

 

https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/nation-world/tuohy-family-responds-michael-oher-conservatorship-lawsuit/507-33c8dd94-c0fe-4738-85a4-ade729b9bcf2

 

The family's biological son, Sean "SJ" Tuohy Jr., who is featured heavily in "The Blind Side," told Barstool Sports that he had found old family texts indicating Oher may have been aware of the conservatorship as early as 2020, three years earlier than what Oher's court filing said. 

 

"If he says he learned that in February, I find that hard to believe," Tuohy Jr. told Barstool Sports Monday. "I went back to my texts today ... to look at our family group text and texts to see what things have been said. There were things back in 2020, 2021 that were like, ‘If you guys give me this much, then I won’t go public with things.’ So I don’t know if that’s true. I think everyone learned in the past year about the conservatorship stuff because of Britney Spears, so maybe that’s the case, but it doesn’t add up."

 

-------------------------------------------

Edited August 16, 2023 by syhuang

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

32 minutes ago, SoTier said:

 

The Touheys lied to Oher because a conservatorship is not an adoption.  The law in Tennessee allows for adult adoptions.  They chose to use a conservatorship rather than a simple adult adoption. 

 

16 minutes ago, unbillievable said:

 

He knew about it, but says that he believed it was the same as adoption.

 

The only thing an adoption grants an adult are heredity rights on the family's estate. Oher wants some of that $200mil Tuoy money!

its seems like both sides basically treated the two things (conservatorship and adoption) as the same in their minds. They just wanted to make it “legal.”  So, I don’t get what the big deal is. 

[soflabillsfan1]

1 hour ago, SoTier said:

 

The Touheys lied to Oher because a conservatorship is not an adoption.  The law in Tennessee allows for adult adoptions.  They chose to use a conservatorship rather than a simple adult adoption. 

A simple adult adoption that required getting both his crackhead Mom and runaway Dad to show up in court.  Good luck with that.  You also kept referring to the "family friend" lawyer. That guy is Jimmy Sexton.  One of the most powerful, respected agents in all of sports.  Oher is going to come out looking bad in this but it doesn't matter.

[Doc]

So he knew of the conservatorship as early as 2011.  Sorry but that's on him.

 

Open up the books and see how much the Tuohys made from TBS versus Oher.  If it's substantially more, cut him a check and tell him to have a nice life.  But make sure to deduct the amount of the tutor, living expenses, food, online courses, gas to and from practice, etc.

[BillsShredder83]

1 hour ago, soflabillsfan1 said:

A simple adult adoption that required getting both his crackhead Mom and runaway Dad to show up in court.  Good luck with that.  You also kept referring to the "family friend" lawyer. That guy is Jimmy Sexton.  One of the most powerful, respected agents in all of sports.  Oher is going to come out looking bad in this but it doesn't matter.

48hrs later and its looking a lot like Oher was given awful advice.  In the mean time the family has been dragged for taking in a homeless kid, feeding him, loving him, helping him get into school. opening your home up to a stranger is no small deal.  theyve been called crooks and white saviors and all sorts of nasty ****. 

 

like always, the headline will be their lasting impression by a large chunk of the public when it comes out the family did no wrong. it'll be a quick blurb, no apologizing and the accusation will stick for many.  unreal levels of ungratefulness, all around.  no apologies or retractions from anyone.

 

cant help but wonder if white foster parents dont give pause to adopting anyone thats not white because of the odd 'white savior' stigma.  of course plenty of folks will take in foster kids anyways, but somewhere down the line i see even one (more?) black kid not being adopted out of fear of the label. unreal

[Doc]

1 minute ago, BillsShredder83 said:

48hrs later and its looking a lot like Oher was given awful advice.  In the mean time the family has been dragged for taking in a homeless kid, feeding him, loving him, helping him get into school. opening your home up to a stranger is no small deal.  theyve been called crooks and white saviors and all sorts of nasty ****. 

 

like always, the headline will be their lasting impression by a large chunk of the public when it comes out the family did no wrong. it'll be a quick blurb, no apologizing and the accusation will stick for many.  unreal levels of ungratefulness, all around.  no apologies or retractions from anyone.

 

cant help but wonder if white foster parents dont give pause to adopting anyone thats not white because of the odd 'white savior' stigma.  of course plenty of folks will take in foster kids anyways, but somewhere down the line i see even one (more?) black kid not being adopted out of fear of the label. unreal

 

Yeah and they did it without knowing a) there would be a story to sell and b) that he'd even be able to play college football, much less make $34.5M in the NFL.

[dave mcbride]

https://wapo.st/3OZ8zLj
 

i strongly recommend reading this Washingon Post piece, which features an interview with Michael Lewis. It may change views on this whole situation.

[Doc]

Maybe it's CTE?

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, Doc said:

Maybe it's CTE?

I actually thought that, as well. 

[BillsShredder83]

This is not at all a slam on the mods, just commentary how a story like this naturally works.

 

Thread has been moved to off the wall, as even the book writer says there was no real money, and his share is in a trust.  Looks pretty certain the family is going to be cleared on this.

 

Yet if you threw a poll up on the main page about, Are The Tuoys a Greedy Family........ there would be a sizeable amount of yes responses.

 

It's a microcosm of how these stories work right here. Amplify this over the entire country and we probably have somewhere between 30-50% of the country who now believe this family is scum.... a family who did an absolutely selfless good deed and showered a broken kid with love.

 

It grinds me gears

[Doc]

56 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

This is not at all a slam on the mods, just commentary how a story like this naturally works.

 

Thread has been moved to off the wall, as even the book writer says there was no real money, and his share is in a trust.  Looks pretty certain the family is going to be cleared on this.

 

Yet if you threw a poll up on the main page about, Are The Tuoys a Greedy Family........ there would be a sizeable amount of yes responses.

 

It's a microcosm of how these stories work right here. Amplify this over the entire country and we probably have somewhere between 30-50% of the country who now believe this family is scum.... a family who did an absolutely selfless good deed and showered a broken kid with love.

 

It grinds me gears

 

That's the media for you.

[boyst]

1 hour ago, BillsShredder83 said:

This is not at all a slam on the mods, just commentary how a story like this naturally works.

 

Thread has been moved to off the wall, as even the book writer says there was no real money, and his share is in a trust.  Looks pretty certain the family is going to be cleared on this.

 

Yet if you threw a poll up on the main page about, Are The Tuoys a Greedy Family........ there would be a sizeable amount of yes responses.

 

It's a microcosm of how these stories work right here. Amplify this over the entire country and we probably have somewhere between 30-50% of the country who now believe this family is scum.... a family who did an absolutely selfless good deed and showered a broken kid with love.

 

It grinds me gears

The average person has no interest in truth anymore. They only care about the feelings of righteousness. Few will look beyond 3' of this upon first reading this and realize there is probably more. 

 

Those that jump to conclusions oe hold the strong opinions based on emotions and their emotional immaturity are the worst types of people. 

[hondo in seattle]

5 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

https://wapo.st/3OZ8zLj
 

i strongly recommend reading this Washingon Post piece, which features an interview with Michael Lewis. It may change views on this whole situation.

 

Some quotes from Lewis...

 

“Everybody should be mad at the Hollywood studio system.  Michael Oher should join the writers strike. It’s outrageous how Hollywood accounting works, but the money is not in the Tuohys’ pockets.”

 

“What I feel really sad about is I watched the whole thing up close.  They showered him with resources and love. That he’s suspicious of them is breathtaking. The state of mind one has to be in to do that — I feel sad for him.”