Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy are calling Michael Oher’s claims that they enriched themselves at his expense “outlandish,” “hurtful and absurd” and a part of a “shakedown” by way of the previous NFL offensive take on, whose courting with the community used to be the foundation for the film “The Blind Side.”

Within the commentary first issued Tuesday by way of legal professional Martin Singer to TMZ.com and after got by way of The Related Press, Singer mentioned the Tuohys are sad and accused Oher of threatening to plant a unfavorable tale about them until they paid him $15 million.

Singer mentioned the Tuohys hope Oher regrets his contemporary selections and that they are able to reconcile.

“In the meantime, however, they will not hesitate to defend their good names, stand up to this shakedown and defeat this offensive lawsuit,” the commentary says.

Oher filed a petition Monday in Shelby County Probate Court docket asking a pass judgement on to finish a conservatorship initiated by way of the Tuohys in 2004 — months later he grew to become 18.

“Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys,” consistent with his petition.

He moved in with the Tuohys simply prior to his senior 12 months of highschool and after attended Sean Tuohy’s alma mater, Mississippi. Oher asks for a complete accounting of his property bearing in mind his while tale produced hundreds of thousands of greenbacks, and he says he gained not anything.

Oher, who hasn’t ever been keen on the film about his while, additionally asks within the petition that the Tuohys be sanctioned and required to pay each compensatory and punitive damages ambitious by way of the courtroom.

The Tuohy community commentary says the concept they sought to benefit off Oher is “not only offensive, it is transparently ridiculous.” The commentary notes the Tuohys are significance “hundreds of millions of dollars” and the perception they might “connive to withhold a few thousand dollars” defies trust.

“They have consistently treated him like a son and one of their three children,” Singer mentioned within the commentary. “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.”

The commentary says brokers negotiated a tiny go from the manufacturing corporate for the Oscar-nominated film “The Blind Side,” which used to be in keeping with the secure written by way of Sean Tuohy’s buddy Michael Lewis. That incorporated “a tiny percentage of net profits” divided similarly with the Tuohys making “good on that pledge.”

Singer notes proof exists in benefit participation assessments and studio accounting statements for the film that received Sandra Bullock an Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy.

When Oher refused to money what the commentary yells “small profit checks” as a part of his “shakedown effort,” the commentary says the Tuohys deposited Oher’s percentage right into a agree with account arrange for his son.

The Tuohys insist they gained “not one penny” as Oher’s conservators and i’m ready it up simplest to backup him with fitness insurance coverage, a motive force’s license and being admitted to school. The commentary says the Tuohys is not going to prohibit Oher’s need to finish their conservatorship.

Singer mentioned within the commentary that Oher has attempted this “several times before” simplest to have legal professionals forbid representing him after they discovered the reality. The commentary known as this a “cynical attempt” as a part of Oher’s unedited secure excursion.

Oher used to be the twenty third general pick out within the 2009 draft out of Mississippi, and he spent his first 5 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens the place he received a Tremendous Bowl. He performed 110 video games over 8 NFL seasons, together with 2014 when he began 11 video games for the Tennessee Titans. Oher completed his occupation with two years in Carolina.

He ultimate performed in 2016 and used to be excused in 2017 by way of Carolina.

Reporting by way of The Related Press.

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