By Achoti Tamar
Remember the movie "The Blind Side"? The movie touched the hearts of many because of the unselfish acts of the Tuohys portrayed in the movie. But Michael Oher, the main character says the unselfish acts were actually in attempt to deprive him of his rights to negotiate contracts pertaining to his football career.
Michael Oher former NFL football player filed a lawsuit against the Tuohys claiming they never filed for custody of him when he was 18 years old. Instead, the Tuohys enticed him to sign a Conservatorship Agreement, given the Tuohys full rights to negotiate contracts on his behalf. According to the Petition “At no point did the Tuohys inform Michael that they would have ultimate control of all his contracts, and as a result Michael did not understand that if the Conservatorship was granted, he was signing away his right to contract for himself,... at no time ever willingly or knowingly signed this document and that nobody ever presented this contract to him with any explanation that he was signing such a document.”
The lawsuit claims The Tuohys were to be paid, plus children Sean Jr. and Collins, $225,000 plus 2.5% of future defined net proceeds hinging on Oher's signature. A contract titled “Life Story Rights Agreement” was “purportedly signed by Michael Oher” and dated April 20, 2007, according to the petition.
In response to the Lawsuit, the Tuohys claim that the Conservatorship was done to satisfy the NCAA as Oher considered Tuohy's alma mater Mississippi for college. Sean Tuohy said he and his wife would end the conservatorship if that's what Oher wants. “It’s upsetting to think we would make money off any of our children. But we’re going to love Michael at 37 just like we loved him at 16," Sean Tuohy said.
Michael Oher, is the inspiration for 'The Blind Side,' claims The Tuohys made millions while lying about adopting him. The Tuohys deny making millions from the movie. However, this question still remains unanswered, how much money did the Tuohys make off other contracts the Tuohys negotiated on Oher's behalf? NFL contracts, endorsement deals, and advertisement of Oher's likeness was all negotiated by the Tuohys from the time Oher was 18 up until retirement from the NFL after eight NFL seasons.
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